Execute a data-driven SSRS subscription from SSIS to archive a report
This article demonstrates how to generate and save an SSRS report to a network folder when an SSIS package is executed.
Monitoring and Alerting
Knowing what is happening on your systems, and being told when a system is not behaving normally is very important for administrators. Steve Jones has a few thoughts on monitoring today.
Using SSIS to Load Data Into Azure SQL Data Warehouse
It is a good time to get familiar with Azure SQL Data Warehouse. The first objective must be to get data into it. SSIS is a good way to start, and it’s certainly worth gaining confidence with the ETL processes supported by SSIS before setting off in other directions. Rob Sheldon provides a simple guide to getting up and running.
Email or Username
One of the things that can be an issue in database design is the data used to identify a user.
PowerShell Interview Questions for SQL Server DBAs
With PowerShell playing a more important role in administration of various types of servers, more SQL Server DBA candidates should have PowerShell knowledge and skills. In this article, Jeffrey Yao lists some common SQL Server DBA tasks that may be completed easier with PS than T-SQL.
Democratic Data Science
Data science is hot now, but work is being done to use the power of software to handle some of the grunt work with data analysis problems.
The Bleeding Edge Versus N Minus One
Risk-averse managers are reticent to upgrade to the latest and greatest. Why is this the case and how can the savvy DBA make the case for and get ready for a newer version of SQL Server?
SQL Server Sargability - Queries on an Indexed Table Sometimes have Slow Performance
The solution here was to slightly modify the slow queries, so the index could be fully used. We made the queries Search Argumentable, or "SARGABLE."
Configuring geo-replication for an Azure SQL Database
This article will discuss geo-replication for an Azure SQL Database (PaaS) and the steps required for setup via the Azure portal and TSQL.
DevOps and Security
Are DevOps and security diametrically opposed? An interesting pieces says no, and Steve Jones comments.
Blogs
Car Update: August 2026
By Steve Jones
It’s been some time since I provided a car update, so I decided to...
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...
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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