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.
Blogs
Learn about Modern Microsoft Apps in San Diego
By Steve Jones
I wrote about learning today for the editorial: I Can’t Make You Learn. I...
How To Deploy Fabric SQL and Azure SQL Databases with Azure DevOps
By ReviewMyDB
Fabric has CI/CD built in, but if you've tried to use it for database...
A New Word: Attriage
By Steve Jones
attriage – n. the state of having lost all control over how you feel...
Forums
SSRS Reminded Me of the Time Microsoft Retired TMG
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SSRS Reminded Me of the...
Getting results from a Procedure to join to a query
I have a need to execute a stored procedure and return the results to...
Upgrade 2016 Standard to 2022 Express
Title pretty much says it all - can this be done? I've tried several...
Question of the Day
BIT_COUNT II
In SQL Server 2025, I have a table (dbo.UserPermission) that contains this data:
UserID UserPermissions 15 23 37 4 NULLWhat is returned when I run this code:
select bit_count(UserPermissions) as PermissionCount from dbo.UserPermission where UserID = 4;See possible answers