SQLServerCentral.com 2014 Users Survey

We want to make sure we're covering the things that are relevant to you, so we're asking for some feedback on what you use on SSC, where we need to improve, and what you'd like to see.

It should only take a few minutes, and three randomly-selected people will win a $50 Amazon gift card for their efforts.

Granular or Cell Level Encryption in SQL Server

Arshad Ali demonstrates granular level encryption in detail and explains how it differs from Transparent Data Encryption (TDE).

SQL Server Tables - 11 Questions You Were Too Shy to Ask

There are some aspects of tables in SQL Server that a lot of people get wrong, purely because they seem so obvious that one feels embarrassed about asking questions. Robert Sheldon reckons that no questions about SQL Tables are off-limits, and deserve frank answers.

Database Branching and Merging Strategies

Source control will allow you to maintain branches in the development of your database, but the subsequent merge isn't pain-free. How can the database developer support the rapid development and delivery of features in an application? Versioning, branching and merging is part of the solution, but what about the rest of the solution?

Finding SQL Server objects that reference invalid objects

Since many environments haven't committed to using a source control system, identifying mismatched objects can offer a challenge. Tim Smith offers a solution.

Experiments with NEO4J: Using a graph database as a SQL Server metadata hub

NEO4J, the graph database, can be used to provide answers that are very tricky for relational databases, including providing diagrams to show how SQL tables relate to each other, and the shortest chain of relationships between two tables, as David Poole demonstrates

Running SQL Server Databases in the Amazon Cloud (Part 1)

In this tip, Sadequl Hussain outlines what's involved in rolling out a SQL Server instance in RDS. In subsequent tips, he will explore what features it offers and what shortcomings it has.

Continuous Delivery and the Database

Continuous Delivery is fairly generally understood to be an effective way of tackling the problems of software delivery and deployment by making build, integration and delivery into a routine. Phil Factor explains why he's an enthusiast for databases being full participants in this story, and suggests practical ways of doing so.

What you need for a Multi Subnet Configuration for AlwaysOn in SQL Server 2012

You have a new project that requires a primary database server in one building and secondary database server in another building to be configured as a Failover Cluster. What are the important points to consider for this scenario?

Differences In Native Compiled Procedures Execution Plans

All the wonderful functionality that in-memory tables and natively compiled procedures provide in SQL Server 2014 is pretty cool. But, changes to core of the engine results in changes in things that we may have developed a level of comfort with. Grant Fritchey explains.