Stairway to U-SQL Level 6: U-SQL Indexes and Partition Schemes
Find out how to speed up your queries by indexing and partitioning data, U-SQL style.
Stretch Database in SQL Server 2016 RTM
Tim Radney of SQLskills shows how the Stretch Database feature has evolved from its early CTP beginnings to the RTM version released earlier this month.
Data Overload
When do you have too much data? What do you do if you aren't actually using all of it?
Reclaiming Space After Column Data Type Change
A brief overview of how to reclaim storage space after altering the data type of a column.
Steps to change the server name for a SQL Server machine
In this tip Jugal Shah looks at the steps within SQL Server you need to follow if you change the physical server name for a standalone SQL Server.
Backup Strategy in Azure SQL?
Everybody says that the backup process in Azure SQL is very easy. Is that true? In this new article, we will show how to do it.
Making Complex Table Changes
The complexity of tables makes modifying them over time a challenge, especially as data sizes grow.
Security Shaming
This week Steve Jones looks at a new idea, rating the security of products publicly to try and shame vendors into more secure coding.
Adding Slicers to a Reporting Services Report
This article shows you how to create dynamic slicers from a data set in an SSRS report
Failover
Too many failovers can cause problems, as can those that happen to often. Steve Jones says you need to consider whether you always need to failover in a sitaution.
Blogs
Microsoft Fabric OneLake Shortcuts: When to Use Them and When Not To
By James Serra
An architecture scenario Imagine separate Sales, Finance, Shared Data, and Executive Analytics workspaces. Sales...
SQL Server Security Hardening Guide Using the DoD STIG Checklist
Security on your SQL Server is important. That doesn’t need any explaining. But where...
EightKB 2026: Registration is Open!
It’s that time of year again! EightKB is back on August 20th at 13:00...
Forums
Backing Up a DMK
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The Quiet Part
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BIT_COUNT in SQL Server
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Question of the Day
Backing Up a DMK
In SQL Server 2025, I have a database with a Database Masker Key (DMK). I want to back up this key and keep a copy offline. When do I have to open this key before running the backup?
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