Running as SysAdmin
Today we have a guest editorial from Andy Warren. We still have many applications runnning under sysadmin accounts, often "sa". Why do people do this? Andy has a few thoughts on the subject.
Azure Data Lakes
The Data-lake is basically a large repository of data for 'big data' analytic workloads, held in its original format. The Azure Data Lake adds Data Lake Analytics, and Azure HDInsight. Although the tools are there for Big Data Analysis, it will require new skills to use, and a heightened attention to Data Governance if it is to appeal to the average enterprise. Rob Sheldon takes a look.
Cursor-Killing: Accessing Data in the Next Row
Cursors are considered by many to be the bane of good T-SQL. What are the best ways to avoid iterative T-SQL and to write queries that look and perform beautifully? This first part in an ongoing series of cursor-killing handles inter-row analysis.
Jodie Beay and the Production Database Drift
You make an example database, like NorthWind or WidgetDev in order to test out your deployment system and the next thing you know you're worrying about constraints, backup and security. Then you add an index to the production system and feel a pang of guilt. What would the Devs say? Somehow databases take on lives of their own, populated by the lost souls of users, Developers and DBAs. Has the Redgate DLM Team's practice Forex database somehow come alive?
Daily Database Backup Scripts
Execute these stored procedures to backup all your database daily and your transaction logs several time daily. Save space by using the overwrite feature.
SQL Server 2016 : In-Memory OLTP Enhancements
Aaron Bertrand takes a look at the changes in store for In-Memory OLTP (the feature formerly known as "Hekaton").
Automate Your Backup and Restore Tasks
A new article that shows how you can automate a basic function that many environments need: the backup of a production database and the restore on a development system.
Solve Common SQL Server Restore Issues
Understanding backup and restore processes is essential for developers and DBAs to be more confident when dealing with uncommon situations and having the ability to suggest flexible solutions related to these processes. In this article, Sergey Gigoyan answers some key questions relating to backup and restore.
Blogs
Database AI Agents: The Read-Only Rule
By Arun Sirpal
Fourth in a series on Ai and databases. What Read-Only Advisory Actually Means A...
Creating a SQL Stored Procedure to Load a SCD2
By DataOnWheels
This is a blog that I am writing for future me and hopefully it’ll...
Funny Money: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
While wandering around the documentation looking for some Question of the Day topics, I...
Forums
Backup Availability Group
Please I am hoping for some feedback Specifications: Windows Server 2022 SQL Server 2022...
How Do the Experts Become Experts?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How Do the Experts Become...
Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments Level 4 – Preparing for Production Deployment
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments...
Question of the Day
Secure Communications
As of June 2026, what is the best version of TLS to use with SQL Server?
See possible answers