SSMS Export to Excel
You’re running an ad-hoc query in a Microsoft SQL Server database with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and need to further analyze the result set in an Excel spreadsheet. How do you export the data?
Throwing Iron at the Cloud and AI
As organizations move to the cloud, the once essential role of the Database Administrator (DBA) as the guardian of system optimization, has been overshadowed, often viewed as a bottleneck to innovation. Yet, as technology evolves, the one thing I know is history repeats itself, and optimization skills are once again emerging as a critical necessity. […]
Data Debt
The idea of data debt seems both silly and obvious to Steve. We all have too much data and it's out of control.
JSON in Microsoft SQL Server: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) has become a popular data format for storing and exchanging information. Microsoft SQL Server, starting from version 2016, introduced built-in support for JSON, allowing developers to work with JSON data more efficiently within the relational database environment. This article will explore how to store, retrieve, and manipulate JSON data in […]
How to rename a SQL Server database
There may come a time when you want to or need to rename a database. In this tip we look at a couple different options.
Creating a Linked Server in Amazon RDS for SQL Server: A Step-by-Step Guide
Linked servers in Amazon RDS for SQL Server allow seamless connectivity to remote databases for distributed queries and data integration. In this article, I guide you through the step-by-step process of creating a linked server using SQL commands, from setting up authentication to testing the connection. Learn best practices, advanced configurations, and essential considerations, including why you can't use SSMS for linked server setup in RDS. This professional guide is tailored for experienced database administrators looking to optimize cross-server operations.
Creating vs. Maintaining
When you create something, do you think about the future? Steve asks the question today.
A Practical Guide to Using Azure Key Vault in Enterprise Deployments
Key vaults define security boundaries for stored secrets. It allows you to securely store service or application credentials like passwords and access keys as secrets. All secrets in your key vault are encrypted with a software key. When you use Key Vault, you no longer need to store security information in your applications. Not having to store security information in applications eliminates the need to make this information part of the code.
The Era of Cloned Humans
AI has tremendous possibilities but also a number of security issues. Steve highlights one scary security issue today.
Add and Subtract Dates using DATEADD in SQL Server
Date manipulation is a common scenario when retrieving or storing data in a Microsoft SQL Server database. There are several date functions (DATENAME, DATEPART, DATEADD, DATEDIFF, etc.) that are available and in this tutorial, we look at how to use the DATEADD function in SQL queries, stored procedures, T-SQL scripts, etc. for OLTP databases as well as data warehouse and data science projects.
Blogs
SQL Server Security: Always Encryption
By Vinay Thakur
As discussed introduction of Always Encryption blog and initial Encryption at rest as TDE...
SQL Server Security – TDE Encryption
By Vinay Thakur
Transparent Data Encryption(TDE): TDE was initially introduced in SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition; this...
A Las Vegas Break
By Steve Jones
Only a little break for me. I’m actually heading to Las Vegas today for ...
Forums
The day-to-day pressures of a DBA team, and how we can work smarter with automation and AI
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The day-to-day pressures of a...
This Week's AI Trust Problem Became Everyone’s Problem
Comments posted to this topic are about the item This Week's AI Trust Problem...
Migrate SSRS Reports to PowerBI Report Server in SQL Server 2025
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Migrate SSRS Reports to PowerBI...
Question of the Day
Identities and Sequences III
When thinking of the Identity property for auto incrementing columns and sequences for the same action, which can be used with the BIGINT data type?
See possible answers