Azure SQL Database’s Dynamic Data Masking (DDM) feature limits the exposure of sensitive information to non-privileged users. DDM can mask either the full value or partial value in a column. This method can also mask Social Security and Credit Card Numbers without making any changes to the application. Read on to learn more.
While Name Value Pairs Tables are anathema to Relational Database professionals, it is sometimes useful to consider such a structure in a production application.
This article illustrates the use of User-defined Table Type to improve such handling.
An accident on a ship is being blamed on unclear data visualization.
Some time ago, Phil Factor wrote his booklet 'SQL Code Smells', collecting together a whole range of SQL Coding practices that could be considered to indicate the need for a review of the code. It was published as 119 code smells, even though there were 120 of them at the time. Phil Factor has continued to collect them and the current state of the art is reflected in this article. There are now around 150 of these smells and SQL Code Guard is committed to cover as many as possible of them.
Additional files can be added to to a database to increase the storage. When more data is added to the files, Extended Events shows how SQL Server spreads data across multiple files.
Steve Jones thinks there is a list of core skills that any database developer or DBA needs. This week he asks you for a list of those things you think should be included.
Inside the SQL Server Tacklebox you'll find day-to-day tools and techniques to automate and standardize SQL Server installation, document and report on your servers, migrate data and manage data growth, troubleshoot performance issues, receive notifications of impending issues, secure access to your servers and fight off the data corruption monster.
Azure SQL Database provides a number of benefits that leverage resiliency and redundancy built into the underlying cloud infrastructure. In addition to Point-in-Time Restore as well as Geo-Restore and Active Geo-Replication, you have the option of implementing long-term backup retention of Azure SQL Database.
We always want to follow the best, or at least good, practices for software development. However do you know what those are? Steve Jones notes there's at least one that isn't often followed.
By Steve Jones
I’m at the UK Redgate office today, meeting with senior leaders in all areas...
Optimizing Azure SQL Database performance often begins with identifying the most resource-intensive queries. Understanding...
By gbargsley
This is Week 2 of PowerShell Strikes Back – a four-week May series for...
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In the new VECTOR_DISTANCE() function in SQL Server 2025, the first parameter is the distance_metric. What is this?
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