What I Love About My Job
In June this year I took redundancy from the company I’d worked at for the previous 11 years. It was of course an uncertain time while I figured out...
2023-12-25 (first published: 2023-12-07)
205 reads
Matthew McGiffen DBA
T-SQL Tuesday 167 – Encryption and Data Protection Roundup
Huge thanks to everyone who responded to my invitation to blog on Encryption and Data Protection for this month’s T-SQL Tuesday. I got what I hoped for, which was...
2023-10-30 (first published: 2023-10-17)
315 reads
T-SQL Tuesday: Encryption and Data Protection
I have the honour of hosting this month’s T-SQL Tuesday. In case there’s any doubt that’s for October 2023, I’m posting this invitation a little early as I got...
2023-09-29
28 reads
Manually updating Statistics in SQL Server
Having up to date statistics is vital for getting the best performance out of your queries. Even though SQL Server automatically updates statistics in the background for you, you...
2023-09-06
29 reads
Statistics and the Ascending Key Problem
I’ve mentioned previously how not having up to date statistics can cause problems in query performance. This post looks at something called the Ascending Key Problem which can badly...
2023-07-21
118 reads
When do Statistics get updated?
Statistics objects are important for allowing the SQL Server Optimizer to make good estimates and form efficient execution plans. Related to that it's useful for us to understand when...
2023-06-28
152 reads
What are Statistics in SQL Server?
Statistics are vitally important in allowing SQL Server to find the most efficient way to execute your queries. In this post we learn more about them, what they are...
2023-06-21
301 reads
Indexes and Statistics with Always Encrypted
In this short post we look at the ability to be able to have (or not) indexes on columns encrypted using Always Encrypted.
2023-06-20
129 reads
Under Promise and Overdeliver
If you under promise and overdeliver then you will always have happy clients.
2023-06-19
25 reads
What Happens in the Background when Executing Queries with Always Encrypted
In previous posts we've looked at a number of aspects of Always Encrypted and how it works. I think it's very useful to understand how it actually works in...
2023-07-03 (first published: 2023-06-15)
241 reads
Blogs
Vibe Coding a Login Tracking System
By Steve Jones
A customer was asking about tracking logins and logouts in Redgate Monitor. We don’t...
4 CPE Opportunity (Virtual) for Charity
By Brian Kelley
Every year, the South Carolina State Internal Auditors Association and the South Carolina Midlands...
Data Céilí 2026 Call for Speakers!
Data Céilí 2026 Call for Speakers is now live! Data Céilí (pronounced kay-lee), is...
Forums
T-SQL in SQL Server 2025: The || Operator
Comments posted to this topic are about the item T-SQL in SQL Server 2025:...
Your Value from a Conference
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Your Value from a Conference
UNISTR Basics
Comments posted to this topic are about the item UNISTR Basics
Question of the Day
UNISTR Basics
What does this code return in SQL Server 2025+? (assume the database has an appropriate collation)
SELECT UNISTR('Hello 4E16754C') AS 'A Classic';
A: 
B: 
See possible answers