How does a View work on a Table with a Clustered Columnstore Index ?
This article is about how a view works when it is created on a table with clustered columnstore index on it.
Interrupt Me, I'm Stagnating
Today we have a guest editorial from Andy Warren with a few hints on how you can continue to be proactive as a DBA.
Microsoft Azure Storage Queues Part 3: Security and Performance Tips
After discussion the main concepts and basic API calls for Azure Storage Queues in parts 1 and 2 of this series, Roman Schacherl turns his focus to two topics that no one likes to implement but everybody needs: security and performance.
Stairway to SQL Server Security Level 6: Execution Context and Code Signing
A fundamental way that SQL Server determines whether a principal has the permissions necessary to execute code is with its execution context rules. It’s all complicated by the possibility that a principal has permission to execute code but doesn’t have permission on the underlying objects accessed by the code, such as the data in a table. This stairway level will explore SQL Server’s execution context, ownership chains, and impersonation, as well as show you how you can control access to data via T-SQL code.
Centralize Your Database Monitoring Process
SQL Server Data Collector, together with Management Data Warehouse, is a fine and useful component for gathering information centrally about how SQL Server instances are being used, and thereby keeping an eye out for problems. It comes into its own when you have figured out how to configure it to run on maybe hundreds of instances using Central Management Server. Dennes describes how to tame the system so that it scales.
New SQL Monitor Custom Metric: Number of Unused Indexes
This metric can help if you want to monitor the number of indexes per database that haven't been used for the last month. Indexes that aren't in use should be removed because they can degrade INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE performance, and they use storage space.
It's OK to be an Outfitter, not a Prospector
As data professional I have played with Analytics and found I'm better suited to development and administration, and that's ok.
Managing the Big Data Technical Staff
Big data is everywhere, and most large IT enterprises have installed one or more big data applications. These applications provide fast access to large stores of data, usually customer or sales data. Your technical staff that supports these applications and the systems that analyze and consume the data didn't exist ten years ago. Who are these new IT professionals, and how should you manage them?
SQL Saturday #374 - Austria
SQL Saturday is holding its first event in Vienna on February 28, 2014. With over 20 sessions on SQL Server, the event is aimed at all those interested in SQL Server - from pros to beginners. Register while space is available.
Blogs
Narrow Task Decomposition in AI Pipeline Agents
A nightly load into sales_fact fails. Ask an orchestrating agent to break down the...
Car Update: August 2026
By Steve Jones
It’s been some time since I provided a car update, so I decided to...
Microsoft Fabric OneLake Shortcuts: When to Use Them and When Not To
By James Serra
An architecture scenario Imagine separate Sales, Finance, Shared Data, and Executive Analytics workspaces. Sales...
Forums
Managing Incidents and Fighting Fires
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Managing Incidents and Fighting Fires
Backing Up a DMK
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Backing Up a DMK
The Quiet Part
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Quiet Part
Question of the Day
Backing Up a DMK
In SQL Server 2025, I have a database with a Database Masker Key (DMK). I want to back up this key and keep a copy offline. When do I have to open this key before running the backup?
See possible answers