Building a high-performance and cost-efficient database infrastructure on Azure SQL with the expertise of MinervaDB's elite-class Database Infrastructure Operations Engineers involves a strategic approach that integrates deep technical expertise with best practices tailored to Azure SQL Database. Here are the key steps and considerations in this process:

1. Initial Assessment and Requirements Gathering

• Understand Business Requirements: Clearly define the performance, availability, and scalability requirements of your business.
• Assess Current Database Infrastructure: Evaluate the existing database setup, if any, to identify performance bottlenecks, cost inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.

2. Designing the Database Architecture

• Select the Appropriate Service Tier: Azure SQL Database offers multiple service tiers (General Purpose, Business Critical, Hyperscale). MinervaDB engineers can help select the most suitable tier based on your workload, performance expectations, and budget.
• Implement Database Sharding: For large-scale applications, consider database sharding to distribute data across multiple databases, improving performance and scalability.

3. Performance Optimization

• Optimize Data Models: Design efficient data models that support your application's queries with minimal overhead. This includes proper indexing, partitioning strategies, and normalization where applicable.
• Query Optimization: Analyze and optimize queries to ensure they are efficiently written, making good use of indexes and avoiding common performance pitfalls.
• Automate Statistics Updates: Ensure statistics are regularly updated to maintain query performance. Use Azure's automatic statistics update features or implement custom update strategies as needed.

4. Cost Management

• Right-Sizing Resources: Adjust the size of your Azure SQL Database instances based on actual usage patterns and performance metrics to avoid over-provisioning.
• Manage Storage Costs: Implement data archiving and purging strategies to manage storage costs effectively. Utilize Azure Blob Storage for cost-effective long-term storage if needed.
• Monitor and Optimize: Use Azure Cost Management tools to monitor your spending and identify opportunities for cost savings.

5. High Availability and Disaster Recovery

• Implement Azure SQL’s Built-in Features: Utilize Azure SQL Database's built-in high availability and disaster recovery features, such as auto-failover groups and active geo-replication, to ensure business continuity.
• Regular Backups: Ensure regular backups are taken and validated to meet your business's RPO (Recovery Point Objective) and RTO (Recovery Time Objective).

6. Security and Compliance

• Implement Security Best Practices: Use Azure’s built-in security features like Azure Active Directory (AAD) authentication, firewall rules, and data encryption both at rest and in transit.
• Compliance: Ensure your database infrastructure complies with relevant regulations and industry standards, leveraging Azure's compliance offerings.

7. Continuous Monitoring and Optimization

• Monitoring: Implement comprehensive monitoring using Azure Monitor and Application Insights to track performance metrics, query execution times, and other vital statistics.
• Regular Review and Optimization: Continuously review the performance and cost metrics to identify optimization opportunities. Regularly refactor and tune as necessary to maintain optimal performance and cost efficiency.

Engaging MinervaDB

• Collaboration: Work closely with MinervaDB’s Database Infrastructure Operations Engineers throughout the process. Their expertise in performance tuning, high availability, disaster recovery planning, and cost optimization can provide invaluable guidance.
• Custom Solutions: Leverage their ability to design custom solutions tailored to your specific needs, ensuring that your Azure SQL Database infrastructure is both high-performing and cost-efficient.

By following these steps and leveraging the expertise of MinervaDB's elite-class engineers, organizations can ensure their Azure SQL Database infrastructure is optimized for both performance and cost, meeting the demands of modern, data-driven applications.