Masking Your Data with SQL Server 2016
There are times when you want some users to see part of a column value but not the whole thing, but you want other users to see the complete column value without any masking. The new SQL Server 2016 Dynamic Data Masking feature will allow you to define these different kinds of masking rules - Greg Larson explains.
What is the Future of Monitoring?
Monitoring your systems is critical to ensuring security and stability. Steve Jones shares a few thoughts on where monitoring might go with more computer assistance in the future.
Faster DBCC CHECKDB with SQL Server 2016
DBCC CHECKDB is a built-in SQL Server command that allows you to check database integrity and consistency in one simple command, but running it on large databases can be a nightmare. In this article, Ahmad Yaseen explains how you can enhance the command to run faster in SQL Server 2016.
DevOps at Microsoft
Microsoft has dramatically changed the way they develop software, in a very public way, as Steve Jones notes.
PowerShell Solutions - Several tips for daily tasks
In this tip, we will talk about PowerShell and SQL Server Log and Data Files.
PowerShell Desired State Configuration: DSC Resources
Desired State Configuration (DSC) allows you to automate the way that you manage configuration data for software services as well as the environment in which these services run. DSC uses a set of built-in and custom 'resources' as the building blocks for a configuration. If you have specific requirements you may need to create the relevant resource to make the configuration happen. Nicolas Prigent provides a practical guide to DSC resources.
Don't tell the boss
Why would I want the boss to be able to see so easily every little bad thing that happens on my servers? Grant Fritchey offers a few reasons...
The Black Boxes
The world of machine learning and artificial intelligence are growing. Steve Jones notes this means we need to decide if we can trust the black boxes.
Expanding the uses of DBCC CLONEDATABASE
Erin Stellato goes into detail about some practical use cases for a new DBCC command in SQL Server 2014 SP2 : DBCC CLONEDATABASE.
Blogs
Programmatically Retrieving MLV Lineage and Refresh Times
Materialized lake views (MLVs) in Microsoft Fabric are an effective way to implement medallion...
Upgrading SQL Server Containers on the Laptop
By Steve Jones
I don’t have SQL Server installed on my laptop. In an effort to keep...
Forums
Having Issue deploying a report to an on prem server from PowerBI desktop
Using PowerBI Version1.25.9508.3237(January 2026). Installed Microsoft Power BI Desktop (Optimized for Power BI Report...
SQL 2019 instance with AG, across 2 Windows 2016 OS servers - OSin-place upgrade
Hi all Can I get some perspective from the community please on performing in-place...
How Long is a Long I/O?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How Long is a Long...
Question of the Day
How Long is a Long I/O?
In SQL Server 2025, a long I/O is recorded in the error log with message 833. How long much an I/O request be outstanding before this message is written to the log?
See possible answers