Exploring SQL Server 2016 Always Encrypted – Part 4 – Encrypting Existing Data
Greg Larsen explores the different ways that you can encrypt your existing confidential data using Always Encrypted Columns in SQL Server 2016.
Azure SQL Data Warehouse loading patterns and strategies
This article gives an overview of the Microsoft Azure SQL Data Warehouse architecture. The new platform-as-a service (PaaS) offering provides independent compute and storage scaling on demand and is currently in public preview.
Why Log Shipping is still a viable solution in 2016
An explanation as to what Log Shipping is and why it's still a viable solution in 2016.
How to Build and Deploy Azure IaaS VMs with PowerShell
The whole point of using a cloud service is to be able to use it intensively for a brief period just when it is needed and then clear out all your work when you've finished. This means automation to make the process as quick and easy as possible. It is likely to mean creating a VM, provisioning it from scratch and spinning it up using PowerShell. Relax, grab the popcorn, and let Adam Bertram show you how he does it in Azure.
Forcing Strong Passwords
Passwords are always a challenge, but are bad passwords the users' fault? Steve Jones has a few thoughts.
SQL Server CROSS APPLY and OUTER APPLY
Arshad Ali demonstrates what the APPLY operator is, how it differs from regular JOINs, and what its applications are.
Should Production Databases Be in a VCS?
Steve Jones talks version control, but from the production perspective.
Introduction to Azure SQL Database Elastic Database Pools
Traditional deployments of Azure SQL Database involve identifying projected resource requirements and selecting individual Azure SQL Database instances. For fluctuating workloads, this frequently results in over- or under-provisioning. To address this challenge, Microsoft offers another approach to sizing Azure SQL Database that relies on Elastic Database Pools. Marcin Policht takes a look.
Zero Downtime for 2016
Someone made a call to architect zero downtime for databases. Steve Jones isn't sure this is the best thing you could do.
Blogs
Shifting Mindsets: Why FinOps is Essential for Cloud Efficiency
By HeyMo0sh
As a DevOps practitioner, I’ve always focused on performance, scalability, and automation. But as...
March 2026 SQL Server Security Updates
By Brian Kelley
On Patch Tuesday, in addition to OS and Office security patches, Microsoft also released...
How Fabric Mirroring Transformed with SQL Server 2025
When mirroring was first released for Azure SQL Database, it used Change Data Capture...
Forums
Multiple Deployment Processes
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How to Use sqlpackage to Detect Schema Drift Between Azure SQL Databases
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How to Use sqlpackage to...
Upgrading Admin Queries
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Upgrading Admin Queries
Question of the Day
Upgrading Admin Queries
I have a query from a former DBA that we run on SQL Server 2025 to check on database metadata. This query references sys.sysaltfiles. I want to refactor this code to be more modern. Which DMV should I reference instead?
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