Making a PostgreSQL Backup in a Container
I needed to back up a PostgreSQL database as a part of the repro for an issue I had. I hadn’t ever made a backup of PostgreSQL, so this...
2025-02-19
145 reads
Azure SQL offerings
There are three Azure SQL products with so many different deployment options, service tiers, and compute tiers that it can get quite confusing when choosing the right option for...
2025-03-03 (first published: 2025-02-18)
1,239 reads
T-SQL Tuesday #183 Roundup
I hosted this month’s T-SQL Tuesday party with my invitation asking about tracking permissions. I didn’t get my own post completed in time, but I’ll add it in the...
2025-02-28 (first published: 2025-02-18)
244 reads
Data Strategy Checklist for 2025
Reflecting on data strategy projects from 2024, key lessons include starting with clear business objectives, prioritizing data ethics and security, and fostering collaboration between business and IT teams. Also,...
2025-02-17
31 reads
A Little Brainstorming with an AI
I was asked to do some a little thinking and brainstorming recently. Rather than send some emails or get on a call, I decided to ask my local AI...
2025-02-26 (first published: 2025-02-17)
364 reads
The Mysterious Empty Table
It seems like no matter how long you work with a system beyond a trivial size, you’ll find something new every so often. A little while ago, I found...
2025-02-26 (first published: 2025-02-17)
391 reads
When is the perfect moment to build a data strategy in a company?
Introduction The challenge enterprises face is adopting new technologies to manage data. But, even more importantly, using the latest technologies is not a solution by itself, and companies should think first about adding value to the organization through...
2025-02-16
12 reads
Choosing to not drive the Tesla
I started a short thread on Twitter/X and Bluesky recently after leaving the Tesla at home recently. A few people asked me about it, so I decided to do...
2025-02-14
42 reads
Advice I Like: Transactions and Relationships
Life gets better as you replace transactions with relationships. – from Excellent Advice for Living This is incredible advice. I think that much of the complaints about the US...
2025-02-14
21 reads
The pros and cons of self-service BI: What every industry leader should know
Introduction Growing enterprises or businesses that want to remain competitive must make quick decisions daily. While experience and expertise are essential in that process, making those critical calls is...
2025-02-14
12 reads
Blogs
Resolving SQL Server Transaction Log Issues Efficiently
By Arun Sirpal
Transaction log issues are one of the quietest ways a healthy database turns into...
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...
Forums
Symmetric Key Encryption
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Symmetric Key Encryption
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