The Age of Multiple Databases
There are lots of databases to choose from. Steve discusses using more of them in your work.
T-SQL Window Functions and Performance
T-SQL window functions, introduced in 2005 with enhancements in 2012, are great additions to the T-SQL language. In this article, Kathi Kellenberger explains what you need to know to get good performance when using these functions.
Explicit Transactions
There are frequent misunderstandings about Explicit Transactions, not limited to use of 'nested transactions'. This article attempts to explain by example many of the behaviors of this feature.
What to Do When SQL Server is Slow
Brent Ozar's session for the PASS DBA Fundamentals virtual chapter.
Generating Completely Random Sample Output from a Dataset
This short article shows a simple example of how to generate completely random sample output from a Dataset
Principles of Data Protection
Protecting data in SQL Server is not as simple as setting a few properties. While there are great security features in SQL Server, such as Transparent Data Encryption, production data may end up in places throughout the organization. In this article, Brian Kelley talks about the best ways to secure data using the concept of least privilege.
Stairway to AlwaysOn Crossword
This crossword puzzle is based on the contents of the Stairway to AlwaysOn.
Examples of using XQuery to update XML Data in SQL Server
What is the most efficient way to modify XML values? To allow for precise modification of XML nodes and values, the XQuery XML query language employs an extension known as the XML Data Modification Language (DML). The XML DML uses the XML modify() method, which makes use of three operational keyword sets: insert, replace value of, and delete. Seth Delconte takes a closer look.
Blogs
In-Person CISA Training – April 13-16, 2026
By Brian Kelley
I will be leading an in-person Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam prep class...
EightKB 2026
EightKB is back again for 2026! The biggest online SQL Server internals conference is...
The FinOps Lifecycle: From Budgeting to Reporting
By HeyMo0sh
Working in DevOps long enough teaches you two universal truths: That’s exactly why I...
Forums
query to track time spent on individual tasks in SSIS
Hi everyone I am looking at building a query to determine how much time...
SQL Server Transactional Replication from Always On Availability Groups to Azure SQL Database
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Transactional Replication from...
Hidden Heroes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Hidden Heroes
Question of the Day
Identities and Sequences I
When thinking of the Identity property for auto incrementing columns and sequences for the same action, which are explicitly linked to increment a number in a table when a new row is added?
See possible answers