Redgate Summit Comes to the Windy City
I love Chicago. I went to visit three times in 2023: a Redgate event, a volleyball tournament, and a wedding. Each time was a lot of fun and I...
2024-05-08
69 reads
Blog Posts
Techorama 2024 – Slides
You can find the slidedeck for my Techorama session “Microsoft Fabric for Dummies” on github.
The post Techorama 2024 – Slides first appeared on Under the kover of business intelligence.
2024-05-08
59 reads
Attacking the Weakest Link
When I look at a system and think about its security model, the first thing I start poking around at is where I think security is weakest. For instance,...
2024-05-06
61 reads
Cloud Databases Made Simple: Creating Your First AWS RDS Instance
I recently started full time learning of Amazon Web Services (AWS). I found that AWS's Relational Database Service
(RDS) is really user-friendly. RDS simplifies many of the
complicated aspects of...
2024-05-06 (first published: 2024-04-20)
405 reads
Tired of Tedious SQL Queries? AI Tools Can Automate The Boring Parts
If you've ever wrestled with complex SQL code, you know the drill. Hours spent on a single query, eyes glazing over at the endless lines of commands, that sinking...
2024-05-06 (first published: 2024-04-19)
926 reads
Webinar – Microsoft Fabric for Dummies
On Wednesday May 15th 2024 I will give a free webinar on MSSQLTips.com about Microsoft Fabric (at 6PM UTC).Abstract: Microsoft Fabric is the new all-encompassing data platform of Microsoft....
2024-05-06
66 reads
A New Word: mcfeely
mcfeely – adj. inexplicably moved by predictable and well-worn sentiments, even if they are trite or obvious or being broadcast blindly to the masses. I get mcfeely all the...
2024-05-03
18 reads
Check your regions people
Today I was having a nice discussion with some colleagues about Fabric and pricing/licensing came up. I mentioned an F2 is only around €250 a month, but a colleague...
2024-05-03 (first published: 2024-04-17)
213 reads
The Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Your SQL DBA Skills
Database administrators (DBAs) are the backbone of data-driven organizations. If you're looking to break into this field or climb the DBA career ladder, mastering SQL is absolutely crucial. Let's...
2024-05-03
389 reads
Using Git Prune–#SQLNewBlogger
As I’ve been working with SQL Saturday and managing changes to events, I’ve accumulated a lot of branches. Even though I’m a solo developer, I decided to use branches,...
2024-05-03 (first published: 2024-04-17)
211 reads
Blogs
Adding an HTTP MCP Server to VSCode
By Steve Jones
I wrote earlier this week about the SQL MCP Server using the Data API...
Microsoft announces new cybersecurity AI multi-model
By Brian Kelley
Yesterday, July 27, 2026, Microsoft announced a new cybersecurity effort called Project Perception. Included...
Getting the SQL Server MCP Server Running
By Steve Jones
If you’ve wanted a SQL Server MCP server for your databases, it’s available. The...
Forums
Symmetric Key Encryption
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The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why Your Login Auditing Strategy Might Be Hurting Your Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why...
Building Your Own Software
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Building Your Own Software
Question of the Day
Symmetric Key Encryption
If I run this statement in SQL Server 2025, how is the password encrypted?
CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY MySymmetricKey WITH ALGORITHM = AES_256, KEY_SOURCE = 'My secret key source passphrase', IDENTITY_VALUE = 'My secret identity value' ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'S&perS#cretP@ssword7'; GOSee possible answers