Take a deep dive into perhaps the single most important facet of query performance―indexes―and how to best use them. Newly updated for SQL Server 2022 and Azure SQL, this fourth edition includes new guidance and features related to columnstore indexes, improved and consolidated content on Query Store, deeper content around Intelligent Query Processing, and other […]
2024-01-17 (first published: 2023-03-17)
4,274 reads
Every Database Administrator, developer, report writer, and anyone else who writes T-SQL to access SQL Server data, must understand how to read and interpret execution plans. This book leads you right from the basics of capturing plans, through how to interrupt them in their various forms, graphical or XML, and then how to use the information you find there to diagnose the most common causes of poor query performance.
2023-08-16 (first published: 2020-07-28)
6,223 reads
In this book, Kalen Delaney explains how the 2016 In-Memory OLTP engine works, how it stores and manipulates data, and how, even with all data stored in memory and no locking or latching, it can still guarantee the ACID properties of all transactions.
2023-04-24 (first published: 2014-11-11)
1,034 reads
Best of SQLServerCentral vol 5 pulls together some of the best contributions to SQLServerCentral.com in 2007.
2022-04-27 (first published: 2009-02-10)
5,263 reads
"Best of SQLServerCentral v6" pulls together some of the best, most popular, and the most read articles of 2008, in dead tree format, covering database administration, BI, design, security, T-SQL, and most things in between.
2022-04-27 (first published: 2009-02-10)
7,569 reads
Best of SQLServerCentral vols 1-4 pulls together some of the best contributions to SQLServerCentral.com between 2002 & 2006.
2022-04-26 (first published: 2009-04-16)
5,951 reads
Source control can and should play a key role in the database development and deployment process, and this book will show you exactly how to get started.
2014-11-11
585 reads
MidnightDBA and Red Gate have joined together to produce a new book on SQL Server, written by 15 first-time authors. The resulting book, TribalSQL, includes everything you should know about SQL Server that isn’t taught in traditional training, they call it Tribal knowledge.
2013-09-19 (first published: 2013-09-18)
452 reads
Every Database Administrator, developer, report writer, and anyone else who writes T-SQL to access SQL Server data, must understand how to read and interpret execution plans. This book leads you right from the basics of capturing plans, through how to interrupt them in their various forms, graphical or XML, and then how to use the information you find there to diagnose the most common causes of poor query performance, and so optimize your SQL queries, and improve your indexing strategy.
2012-11-12
17,092 reads
When a SQL Server database is operating smoothly and performing well, there is no need to be particularly aware of the transaction log, beyond ensuring that every database has an appropriate backup regime and restore plan in place. When things go wrong, however, a DBA's reputation depends on a deeper understanding of the transaction log, both what it does, and how it works. An effective response to a crisis requires rapid decisions based on understanding its role in ensuring data integrity.
2012-11-12
4,500 reads
By Steve Jones
I wrote earlier this week about the SQL MCP Server using the Data API...
By Brian Kelley
Yesterday, July 27, 2026, Microsoft announced a new cybersecurity effort called Project Perception. Included...
By Steve Jones
If you’ve wanted a SQL Server MCP server for your databases, it’s available. The...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Symmetric Key Encryption
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Building Your Own Software
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