Product: Azure SQL Database

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1 min read

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 18.1 is now generally available 

We’re excited to announce the release of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 18.1. It’s been just over a month since we released SSMS 18.0. While we brought in many fantastic capabilities, we also regressed some functionality for some of our users. We are happy to share that we’ve fixed those and are also bringing in some new features along with bug fixes.
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2 min read

Advanced data security for SQL Server is coming to Azure Virtual Machines 

This post was written by Michael Makhlevich Our customers have asked for this and we’ve been listening – advanced data security is now available for SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines! Using just a few simple steps, you can now protect your SQL Server installations on Azure VMs with Microsoft’s advanced data security capabilities.
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4 min read

A SQL Server tale of two cities 

No one disputes that data is critical to the lifeblood of business, applications, and the computer industry. SQL Server sits at the forefront of any discussion about data these days. So it’s no coincidence that SQL Server is seen, heard, and felt at major industry events.
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3 min read

The Cloud Database Administrator—Tech success at scale 

As a database administrator (DBA), I’ve always known what the role involved. Developers swing by my desk requesting a new database, a data refresh, or help with challenges they’re facing. They sometimes get frustrated with me when their database or data isn’t ready, even if it’s really the server admin who hasn’t allocated the storage or provisioned the new server yet.
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8 min read

The March release of Azure Data Studio is now available 

We’re excited to announce the March release of Azure Data Studio (formerly known as SQL Operations Studio) is now available. Download Azure Data Studio and review the Release notes to get started. Please note: If you’re currently using the preview version of SQL Operations Studio, and would like to retain your settings when upgrading to the latest version, follow these instructions.
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2 min read

Four ways to take your apps further with cloud, data, and AI solutions from Microsoft 

Companies today demand the latest innovations for every solution they deliver. How can you make sure your infrastructure and data estate keep up with the demands of your business? Read the tips below, and join our upcoming webinar on transforming your business with a modern data estate. 1. Prioritize data Data is at the core of modern applications.
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3 min read

Announcing: Preview of Machine Learning Services with R support in Azure SQL Database 

We are excited to announce that Machine Learning Services with support for R is now available for public preview on Azure SQL Database. Machine Learning Services has transformed SQL Server into a versatile machine learning platform. We are now bringing the same in-database machine learning capabilities to the fully managed Azure SQL Database.
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3 min read

DBA essentials—SQL Server 2017 security, performance tuning, and more—inside out 

Whether you’re an experienced DBA with multiple certifications or just starting on your SQL Server DBA journey, you face challenges constantly for putting your organization’s data to work. To turn the next-to-impossible into the practical, you need a comprehensive resource at your fingertips: SQL Server 2017 Administration Inside Out, by William Assaf, Randolph West, Sven Aelterman, and Mindy Curnutt.
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1 min read

Securing your data with Azure SQL Database 

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is now in effect as of May 25th, 2018.  GDPR has significant implications on the use and management of your customers’ personal data. Considerations of privacy, security, data management, and marketing practices are all top of mind. With nearly 160 new GDPR requirements, it’s clear that cloud technology can help accelerate your path to GDPR compliance.
Published 
5 min read

SQL Server Automatic Tuning around the world… 

..and in the clouds…When I first saw early builds of SQL Server 2017, one of the features that caught my eye immediately was Automatic Tuning with an option called Automatic Plan Correction. SQL Server 2017 was released in October of 2017 right on the heels of one of my favorites releases, SQL Server 2016.