How efficient is your covered index?
Observing an index seek utilizing a composite index within SQL execution plan might be more than meets the eye – you should look again.
Storing Passwords in a Secure Way in a SQL Server Database
Measures such as using special characters and numbers within a password are of little use to security if passwords are then stored in an insecure way. Sergey Gigoyan explains how to encrypt and store passwords in a SQL Server database.
Choosing Your Tasks
Today Steve Jones asks about your job and if you get to pick the things you work on or is most of your time assigned to tasks by someone else?
Data Mining Part 32:The Microsoft Data Mining Enemies
In this chapter, we will talk about the competition of Data Mining
Data Mining Part 32:The Microsoft Data Mining Enemies
In this chapter, we will talk about the competition of Data Mining
SQL and R
There is plenty that is novel and perhaps foreign to a new R user, but it's no reason to abandon your hard-earned SQL skills! In this article, Casimir Saternos explains that not only can you easily retrieve data from SQL Sources for analysis and visualisation in R, but you can also use SQL to create, clean, filter, query and otherwise manipulate datasets within R, using a wide choice of relational databases.
Version Control - Part 2 - Tracking Changes
Part 2 of Steve Jones' series on version control. This article examines how you can track the changes you have made in a development cycle.
Version Control - Part 3 - Migrating Objects to Production
Part 3 of Steve Jones' series on version control. This article examines how migrate your changes to your live systems.
Version Control - Part 4 - Rolling Back
Part 4 of Steve Jones' series on version control. This article examines how back out your changes from your live systems.
Version Control -Part 1- Dealing with Code
Part 1 of Steve Jones series on version control and SQL Server. This article examines how you can work with version control and SQL objects.
Blogs
PlanTrace Now Supports PostgreSQL
PlanTrace Now Supports PostgreSQL The same plan analysis you know from...
A New Word: the Kinder Surprise
By Steve Jones
the kinder surprise – . the point in your early adolescence when you realize...
Crash-Consistent Snapshot Cloning - Hyper-V Edition
If you’ve been following my T-SQL Snapshot Backup series, most of what I’ve covered...
Forums
SSRS Is Dead. Here Are Your Real Options
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SSRS Is Dead. Here Are...
The Distance Metric
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Distance Metric
The New Wave of Security Threats
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The New Wave of Security...
Question of the Day
The Distance Metric
In the new VECTOR_DISTANCE() function in SQL Server 2025, the first parameter is the distance_metric. What is this?
See possible answers