Final answer:
When deploying a virtual machine and installing an SQL database on it in a cloud environment, you are responsible for database patches, updates, and data maintenance.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you deploy a virtual machine and install an SQL database on it in a cloud environment, you are responsible for database patches, updates, and data maintenance. Unlike when using a traditional physical server, in a cloud environment, the responsibility for maintaining and updating the software installed on the virtual machine lies with the end-user or their IT support team.
The cloud service provider is responsible for maintaining the underlying infrastructure, such as the hardware, network, and virtualization software. However, they do not manage the specific software applications or databases running on the virtual machine.
In some cases, if you are using a managed service from a third-party vendor, they may take care of database patches, updates, and data maintenance as part of their service offerings. However, in the scenario described in the question, the responsibility lies with the end-user or their IT support team.