Enterprise-scale data integration demands scalable tools to not only centralize and curate data at scale, but also efficiently explore and analyze data at large-scale. CData Connect solves the challenge of data exploration and discovery through virtualized connectivity to data distributed across many data sources. In this article, we explore the Derived Views and Query Federation features […]
This article discusses sp_PerfSQ a diagnostic tool designed to quantify performance features of database queries with active requests. It includes a behavioural parser and can assist in troubleshooting complex performance issues.
How to quickly and automatically bulk load test data once Flyway Teams completes a database migration. A baseline migration script creates the empty database version, which then triggers a PowerShell callback script that bulk loads in the right version of the data. It is a very fast way to provision multiple copies of a specific database version, complete with data, for ad-hoc or automated testing.
Learn how to perform data deduplication for Azure Synapse Analytics using Azure Mapping Data Flows.
Over the course of this stairway series, we're going to explore in detail the use of Extended Events as a diagnostic data collection tool, to track down causes of poor performance in SQL Server. This first level will start from a point known and familiar to many DBAs, namely the use of SQL Trace to track down and investigate long-running queries.
I work for a great company, one that I feel cares about me as more than a "resource", gives me opportunities (with responsibility and accountability), and has some nice benefits. I actually used one of those last week. I get a volunteer day every year, where I can spend time with a charity and get […]
How to add test data to a SQL Server database, during Flyway development. We use SQL Data Generator to produce some "realistic but fake" data and then SQL Data Compare to produce an INSERT script that Flyway can use to load the data into a newly-built version of the database.
Video games would not be much fun without animation. In this article, Lance Talbert demonstrates Unity state machine behaviours to define code running during specific animation states.
Introduction Do we have the SQL Profiler in Azure Data Studio? In a previous article, we compared SSMS and Azure Data Studio. Now we will compare the new SQL Profiler against the old one. If you check the SQL Server Profiler documentation, you will find that SQL Profiler is deprecated and that that feature will […]
By Arun Sirpal
Transaction log issues are one of the quietest ways a healthy database turns into...
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...
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...
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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