Fun and profit with UTF-8
When SQL Server 2019 was announced, it brought with it UTF-8 support. Also available in Azure SQL Database, UTF-8 is exciting if you have a legacy database and application...
2020-08-12
63 reads
Blog Posts
Online certification exams are definitely different
As you can tell from previous posts, I’ve taken a few Microsoft Certification exams here in 2020. As you may have also heard, there’s been this Coronavirus pandemic happening...
2020-08-12 (first published: 2020-08-01)
363 reads
The EU New Stars of Data Come Tomorrow
One of the things I’ve tried to do when SQL Saturdays is ensure there are lots of local speakers, and new speakers. I’ve argued for more new speakers at...
2020-08-12
13 reads
Understanding how to enable SQL Server Optimizer Hotfixes
There are a number of knobs and switches that are available to database administrators that can be used to enable better performance. There are three options in particular that...
2020-08-12 (first published: 2020-07-31)
1,675 reads
Azure Database Administrator
Recently I found out that I passed the BETA exam for Azure Database Administrator Associate qualification. I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the exam and if...
2020-08-11
30 reads
Capturing Queries Can Be a Pain
The moment you decide you want to monitor your SQL Server instance for query behavior, you’re going to be forced to make a bunch of choices. Further, all these...
2020-08-11 (first published: 2020-08-03)
445 reads
Daily Coping 11 Aug 2020
I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m...
2020-08-11
10 reads
My T-SQL Tuesday #129 Time Capsule
This month the T-SQL Tuesday invitation comes from Tamara Clark. I strong-armed Tamara last fall, along with her husband, into hosting this year. She came through, with a great...
2020-08-11
17 reads
Things That Shouldn’t Be Normal in Database Development (28 minute video/podcast episode)
Many people use entrenched processes for database development that have been in place so long that it’s hard to imagine doing it any other way. In this episode, I...
2020-08-11 (first published: 2020-07-30)
738 reads
T-SQL Tuesday #129 – Let’s Build a Time Capsule
It is time for another T-SQL Tuesday! Thank you Tamera Clark (t|b) for hosting this month. This month we are building a Time Capsule. I decided to make mine...
2020-08-11
2 reads
Blogs
Narrow Task Decomposition in AI Pipeline Agents
A nightly load into sales_fact fails. Ask an orchestrating agent to break down the...
Car Update: August 2026
By Steve Jones
It’s been some time since I provided a car update, so I decided to...
Microsoft Fabric OneLake Shortcuts: When to Use Them and When Not To
By James Serra
An architecture scenario Imagine separate Sales, Finance, Shared Data, and Executive Analytics workspaces. Sales...
Forums
Managing Incidents and Fighting Fires
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Backing Up a DMK
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The Quiet Part
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Question of the Day
Backing Up a DMK
In SQL Server 2025, I have a database with a Database Masker Key (DMK). I want to back up this key and keep a copy offline. When do I have to open this key before running the backup?
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