If you do not need a SQL Server license (Microsoft SPLA License Pricing at Clouding) due to the characteristics of the database and its resource requirements, you can use SQL Server Express, which does not require an additional license, and you can install it on one of the Windows Images available in Clouding.
The limitations of this version include the use of a single processor, a maximum memory usage of 1410 MB, and a maximum database size of 10 GB on disk.
A Standard edition can use up to four processors, a maximum of 64 GB of memory usage, and a maximum database size of 534 PB.
You can find more details on the official Microsoft page by clicking here.
Installation
To install, you must have access to the server via Remote Desktop (Connect to a Windows Server via Remote Desktop). Once the Remote Desktop session is started, download and run the installer on the server.
In the following links for each version, you can download the installer from Microsoft’s official site:
SQL Server Express 2012
SQL Server Express 2014
SQL Server Express 2016
SQL Server Express 2017
SQL Server Express 2019
SQL Server Express 2022
SQL Server Express 2025
To download the installer using Internet Explorer, you must disable enhanced protection. You can follow this article to Change Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration.
Once downloaded, run the installer and accept the terms and conditions. When it finishes, you will have the option to install SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or restart the server.
If you choose to install it, click the Install SSMS button, which will open the browser with the download link for the installer (https://aka.ms/ssmsfullsetup). Run it and follow the installation steps. At the end, it will prompt you to restart.
After the restart, the installation of SQL Server Express and SQL Server Management Studio will be complete.
Additionally, you can review the article How to Enable Remote Connections in SQL Server on Windows to allow external access.