Is SQL Server Mature?
This Friday Steve Jones is wondering if the SQL Server platform does the job well enough for most people, or are there holes that need to be filled with new features.
SQL Authentication Via AD Groups Part II: Who has what access?
In a previous article, we discussed how to liberate the DBA from SQL Logins with AD Groups. A good point was raised: How can the DBA know who has what access? Here is a solution.
Interpreting Missing Index Recommendations
Pinal Dave explains how missing index hints are like restaurant appetizers.
Handling Inconvenient Requests
Brad gives a little guidance on how you might want to respond to inconvenient requests with an eye on doing yourself a favor.
Using a Derived Table to Compare Data with Values from a Previous Year
Comparing year on year sales is a fundamental requirement in much commercial analysis - here you learn how to do this in SQL
Understanding your Azure EA Billing Data and Building a Centralized Data Storage Solution
Many organizations are moving to Azure and other cloud providers. Understanding how resources are being used and what is spent is very important. In this article, Feodor explains his solution for automating the collection of the Enterprise Agreement billing from Azure into an Azure SQL Database where it can be analyzed.
CI and CD Aren't Magic
The techniques for Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) don't make software better by themselves. It takes some investment and work by your staff as well.
Rolling up multiple rows into a single row and column for SQL Server data
Do you need a way to roll-up multiple rows into one row and one column. You know you can roll-up multiple rows into one row using Pivot, but you need all of the data concatenated into a single column in a single row. this tip looks at a simple approach to accomplish this.
Finding a String Anywhere in Another String
Optimize searching for a string within another string with this string storage and indexing technique.
Have You Been Hacked?
Security is a big deal, and Steve Jones wonders if most data professionals would be aware that they had been hacked.
Blogs
ISACA AI Material/Exam Prep Discount (May 18 – June 30, 2026)
By Brian Kelley
If you are considering any of the ISACA AI certs like the Advanced Artificial...
A Fabric solution can be very cost effective
By ChrisJenkins
Are you currently using Microsoft Fabric or considering migrating to it? If so, there...
Track SQL Server Configuration Changes Using the Error Log
By SQLPals
Track SQL Server Configuration Changes Using the Error Log If you...
Forums
Before Using AI with Business Data, Read This
Artificial intelligence tools are quickly becoming part of daily business operations, from document analysis...
Designing SQL Server ETL Pipelines That Don't Break at Scale
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Designing SQL Server ETL Pipelines...
Detecting Deadlocks Quickly
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Detecting Deadlocks Quickly
Question of the Day
Detecting Deadlocks Quickly
In the Database Engine, when a deadlock is detected, what does the detection interval shrink to (in time)?
See possible answers