Data Cleaning in SQL 2012 with Data Quality Services
Feodor Georgiev provides a thorough walkthrough on setting up SQL Server's Data Quality Services (DQS) and creating the rules it uses to function as a first step towards data cleansing.
Hadoop and SQL Server
Hadoop is a technology that's getting quite a bit of attention in the last few years, including integration with SQL Server. Steve Jones talks about the technology and how it might fit in your career.
Options to Improve SQL Server Bulk Load Performance
In this tip Ben Snaidero looks at how to improve SQL Server Bulk Load performance. He focuses his performance tests on options using the BULK INSERT T-SQL command to judge how the various options affect speed.
Dynamically Create Tables Based on an Access Table
Create and Load Sql Server Tables based on Dynamic Access Database
Testing
We know that software testing is important, but we often don't do a great job of executing. Steve Jones talk database testing today.
Exploring Query Plans in SQL
SQL Server keeps the most-used execution plans in cache, so it doesn't need to recompile the same queries every time. How can we benefit from this to find potential performance problems in execution plans?
Data Lakes
An interesting new paradigm popped up in the news this week: the data lake. It examines data as a model for organizational architectures.
SQL Server PCI DSS Security Patching Checklist
PCI DSS has strict requirements about implementing security updates and using only applications which are supported by the vendors. How do you create a patching policy for SQL Servers?
Multiple Backup Files
This Friday Steve Jones looks at your backup system and wonders how many people use striped backups.
Backing up your SQL Server to Amazon's Cloud in Three Easy Steps
John Grover explains how to set up Amazon S3 storage, install and configure the Amazon PowerShell module, and set up a Maintenance plan using SQL native backups and PowerShell.
Blogs
A New Word: los vidados
By Steve Jones
los vidados – n. the half-remembered acquaintances you knew years ago, who you might...
In-Person CISA Training – April 13-16, 2026
By Brian Kelley
I will be leading an in-person Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam prep class...
EightKB 2026
EightKB is back again for 2026! The biggest online SQL Server internals conference is...
Forums
Vectors in SQL Server 2025
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Vectors in SQL Server 2025
Odd Sequences
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Odd Sequences
Everything is the right question away
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Everything is the right question...
Question of the Day
Odd Sequences
What values are returned from this code?
CREATE SEQUENCE NumericSequence
AS NUMERIC(5,1)
START WITH 1.0
INCREMENT BY 0.1;
GO
SELECT NEXT VALUE FOR NumericSequence
GO
SELECT NEXT VALUE FOR NumericSequence
GO See possible answers