Authentication overview

SQL Commander supports three SQL Server connection authentication choices.

SQL Server Authentication

Use this for local SQL Server, containers, and SQL logins.

Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=master;User ID=sa;Password=<password>;Encrypt=True;TrustServerCertificate=True;

Azure Default Credential

Use this for local development against Azure SQL without storing a database password. SQL Commander uses Azure Identity to acquire an Entra token from tools such as Azure CLI or Visual Studio.

See Azure Default Credential authentication.

Azure Managed Identity

Use this when SQL Commander runs in Azure and should connect to Azure SQL without secrets.

See Managed Identity authentication.

Recommendation

• Local SQL Server demo: SQL Server Authentication.
• Local Azure SQL development: Azure Default Credential.
• Azure-hosted SQL Commander: Managed Identity.