I Just Don’t Understand Why You Don’t Update SSMS.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, SQL Server Management Studio was included as part of the SQL Server installer.

Azure Functions: The Serverless Powerhouse

Today’s organization are faced with multiple conflicts for their current cloud infrastructures and which approach to go with either opting for a microservice or monolith applications. However, there are numerous difficulties with standard hosting methods.

Securing Your Databases in 2026: Best Practices for the Evolving Threat Landscape

In 2026, your approach to both applications and databases must be focused on practical and technical real-world operations and use cases rather than just hype.

Exploiting SQL Server Date Correlation Optimization: How Tampered Backups Enable Cross-Database Data Leaks

This article reveals a critical SQL Server flaw: attackers can weaponize Date Correlation Optimization (DCO) views in restored backups

Using REGEXP_COUNT to Count Strings in SQL Server 2025

We need to find out how many times certain strings appear in a column. We’ve used the LEN and REPLACE functions for years, but recently heard about REGEXP_COUNT and want to evaluate it, since we plan to upgrade to SQL Server 2025. How can we test this new feature?

Deciphering Data Architectures

Data fabric, data lakehouse, and data mesh have recently appeared as viable alternatives to the modern data warehouse. These new architectures have solid benefits, but they're also surrounded by a lot of hyperbole and confusion. This practical book provides a guided tour of these architectures to help data professionals understand the pros and cons of each.

• Printed book:
  • US
• Kindle book:
  • US

Common Misconceptions About Microsoft Certification Exams

An experienced exam writer explains common misconceptions about Microsoft certification exams, question design, preparation, and real-world expectations.

How Filters and Sorting can Derail SQL Pagination Performance

In my previous tip, Pagination Performance in SQL Server, I showed how to make SQL pagination more predictable – turning O(n) into O(1). I materialized and cached row numbers to page through instead of calculating them on every request. It wasn’t the whole story, though; real pagination queries rarely get to sort without filtering. Users always want more control, and filtering can threaten that predictability.

Common SQL Server Problems: Invalid Length

This is another part in my series designed to offer guidance around common issues in SQL Server. Today, let’s talk about the all-too-common error: invalid length.

Database Development with AI in 2026

This seems like the appropriate first BrentOzar.com blog post in the year 2026, eh?