SQL Server 2022 Standard Edition, licensed per core, is a relational database management system designed for mid-tier applications and data marts. It offers a balance of features and cost-effectiveness compared to the Enterprise Edition. 
 
Key characteristics and features of SQL Server Standard 2022 (Core-based licensing): 
Core-based Licensing: 
This edition is licensed based on the number of physical cores in the server or virtual cores allocated to a virtual machine. A minimum of 4 cores must be licensed per server or virtual machine, even if fewer cores are present. 
 
Resource Limits: 
It supports up to 24 logical cores for the Database Engine and Analysis Services, and a maximum of 128 GB of memory. 
 
Features: 
Data Virtualization: Enhanced PolyBase allows querying external data sources like Oracle, Teradata, and MongoDB directly from SQL Server without data movement. 
Big Data Clusters: Includes capabilities for integrating with Spark and Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS). 
Security: Offers advanced security features like Always Encrypted, Row-level security, Dynamic data masking, and Advanced Threat Protection. 
 
Performance: Incorporates next-generation Intelligent Query Processing features for faster query execution without code changes. 
High Availability & Disaster Recovery: Supports standard replication, backup compression, and provides options for failover servers. 
Azure Integration: Offers hybrid capabilities, Azure Arc integration for on-premises management, and Azure Hybrid Benefit for reduced rates in Azure. 
Target Use Cases: 
Suitable for departmental applications, data marts, and mid-sized workloads where the full scale and advanced features of Enterprise Edition are not required. 
Scalability: 
Allows for easy upgrade to Enterprise Edition without code changes if future needs require more advanced features or higher resource limits.