Learning to Search
Today Steve Jones notes that the ability to search if invaluable as the amount of information, or even objects, we deal with grows.
Stairway to U-SQL Level 5: Databases and Tables in Azure Data Lakes with U-SQL
A guide to using databases, schemas and tables in Azure Data Lakes, using (of course!) U-SQL.
Temporal Data Part 2 - Creating and Deleting System-Versioned Tables
Greg Larsen expands on his topic of how to modify an existing table to take advantage of the new temporal data feature in SQL Server 2016. In this article he shows you how to create and deleted system-versioned tables and the associated history temporal table.
A Buggy Release
Releasing software is stressful, and as Steve Jones notes today, can cause bankruptcy if you don't have a solid process.
Azure SQL Limitations compared with a SQL Server Enterprise
In this article, we will compare a traditional SQL Server Enterprise Edition with an Azure SQL Database and see the differences.
Redgate’s 2016 Roadmap
What do you get for your Support & Upgrades package? Read this blog post to learn about the new functionality and improvements Redgate is releasing this year. Find out more.
What's "Actually" going on with that Seek?
Rob Farley digs deeper into seeks and actual rows read, demonstrating a case where you want a non-sargable expression in the WHERE clause.
Where's the Unit Testing?
Today Steve Jones wonders why we don't unit test more, especially for databases.
The IT Manager's perspective: People as an Asset
Information Technology is fast-changing, but the people who work in IT need to have a good chance of a long-term career. That means keeping up to date, not only in their current speciality, but in the wider sphere of the technology they work with. IT managers must make sure that keeping up to date with technology is part of the day to day activity of their people. How should they make sure it happens?
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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