Stairways

To keep up to date with all the technologies in SQL Server, the DBA or developer who wants to stay ahead is faced with the struggle of constant learning. How do you keep up while avoiding information overload, unnecessary detours and dead-ends?

The SQL Server Stairways is our solution to this problem. Designed to smooth out even the steepest learning curve, each Stairway is a SQL tutorial series focused on a single topic and is arranged into no more than a dozen easily-navigable tutorials that we call 'steps'. Each step is the length of a typical magazine tutorial, and emphasizes practical, hands-on learning, with just enough background theory to help you understand the topic at a deeper level.

Using straightforward language and avoiding jargon and marketing babble, each Stairway tutorial series is designed to take you from zero knowledge of a particular SQL Server topic to a level of practical understanding that will allow you to start using that feature in a production environment. The learning gradient is steady and manageable, but also brisk. You won't be wasting time.

Happy climbing!

Stairway To Reliable Database Deployments

Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments

This stairway addresses many of the issues that come about with ad hoc database deployment processes in many organizations. You will learn how to better architect and structure your processes to ensure a reliable database deployment for your applications.

(1)

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2026-06-11 (first published: )

237 reads

Stairway to DAX and Power BI

Stairway to DAX and Power BI

Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) can be used in formulas or expressions to calculate and return information from data already in our Power BI models. This Stairway series serves as a progressive introduction to DAX within the context of Power BI, examining the functions, operators and values involved, and examining their operation in practice examples. As a part of introducing DAX functions and overall capabilities, the Levels of the series will also offer a wealth of practical exposure to Power BI features as a part of putting DAX to work in our data models and visualizations.

(6)

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2026-04-15 (first published: )

19,897 reads

Stairway to Azure SQL Hyperscale

Stairway to Azure SQL Hyperscale

Azure SQL Hyperscale is a scale of the Azure SQL Database intended to scale to very large levels, up to 100TB for a database. This option sits next to the General Purpose and Business Critical  tiers. It is described in the What is Hyperscale? document from Microsoft. This series is intended to teach you about […]

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2025-08-25 (first published: )

248 reads

Stairway to Database containers

Stairway to Database Containers

Containers are a lightweight way of building applications that run on a host. Similar to virtualization, the container is a virtual OS rather than a full machine. This stairway will walk you through the basis of containers using Docker for Windows and SQL Server inside of a container.

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2024-07-28 (first published: )

8,151 reads

Stairway to AlwaysOn

Stairway to Always On

AlwaysOn is a complex set of technologies that is often mis-understood. In this Stairway you will learn about the AlwaysOn technologies, how they fit into the High Availability stack, and how to make good use of them.

(2)

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2024-07-23 (first published: )

19,288 reads

Stairway to Server Management Objects (SMO)

This stairway series tries to help the reader become comfortable with server management objects (SMO). These objects are a programmatic way of accessing SQL Server functions and objects through an API from .NET. This series will help you learn the basics with practical applications for your work.

(1)

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2024-01-20 (first published: )

1,448 reads

Blogs

Claude finds two cryptographic weaknesses (but the sky isn’t falling)

By

If you haven't seen the announcement, Anthropic was able to utilize Claude (Mythos Preview)...

Generate Embeddings in SQL with Aurora and Bedrock

By

Most embedding pipelines on AWS have the same shape: a job reads rows out...

Resolving SQL Server Transaction Log Issues Efficiently

By

Transaction log issues are one of the quietest ways a healthy database turns into...

Read the latest Blogs

Forums

Symmetric Key Encryption

By Steve Jones - SSC Editor

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Symmetric Key Encryption

The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why Your Login Auditing Strategy Might Be Hurting Your Server

By Pablo Echeverria

Comments posted to this topic are about the item The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why...

Building Your Own Software

By Steve Jones - SSC Editor

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Building Your Own Software

Visit the forum

Question of the Day

Symmetric Key Encryption

If I run this statement in SQL Server 2025, how is the password encrypted?

CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY MySymmetricKey
WITH ALGORITHM = AES_256,
KEY_SOURCE = 'My secret key source passphrase',
IDENTITY_VALUE = 'My secret identity value'
ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'S&perS#cretP@ssword7';
GO

See possible answers