As SQL Server 2016 approaches end of support in July 2026, a look back at its groundbreaking innovations reveals how it reshaped Microsoft's data platform and why it's time to move forward.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 05/12/2026
Microsoft’s new Azure database savings plans promise more flexible, cross-service cost reductions than traditional reservations, giving IT teams another lever to manage rising cloud database spend while preserving deployment options across regions and platforms.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 04/10/2026
Recent SQL Server 2025, Azure SQL, SSMS 22 and Fabric announcements highlight new event streaming and vector search capabilities, plus expanding monitoring and ontology tooling -- with tradeoffs in platform packaging.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 04/07/2026
Migrating a database to an older version of SQL Server requires exporting it as a data-tier application and importing it on the target instance, providing a practical workaround when native backup restores are blocked by version compatibility limits.
Introduced at Ignite late last year, Azure HorizonDB is a new PostgreSQL service designed for higher performance and scalability, using disaggregated storage, zone-redundant architecture and a Rust-based engine to target large, cloud-native workloads.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 01/08/2026
Microsoft used its annual conference to roll out sweeping updates across Managed Instance, Cosmos DB, Fabric, PostgreSQL and SQL Server tooling, signaling broad investments in performance, scalability and unified data governance beyond its flagship SQL Server 2025 release.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 11/18/2025
With the official release of Microsoft's latest database offering, let's see what was improved and what still needs some work.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 11/18/2025
Two cascading disruptions tied to Azure Front Door updates left global users unable to access the Azure Portal, offering a case study in how cloud complexity and outdated APIs can turn maintenance into widespread downtime.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 10/17/2025
Understanding your customer base and planning early are essential steps when designing a scalable, multi-tenant database architecture that balances cost, performance and isolation.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 09/16/2025
A new SQL Server 2025 feature lets organizations run vector-based semantic searches on their own data, connecting to local or cloud-hosted AI models without relying on massive general-purpose LLMs.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 08/12/2025
Hanging onto unused data is a hacker's dream, and shredding old drives isn't enough to thwart them. A robust data sanitization plan is the most underrated way to slash your attack surface.
Microsoft's continued focus on SQL Server 2025 highlights the lasting demand for on-premises and hybrid deployments that prioritize performance, control and flexibility for enterprise workloads.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 05/23/2025
At Microsoft Build, SQL Server 2025 enters public preview with major enhancements in AI integration, performance, reliability and developer tools -- reaffirming Microsoft’s continued investment in its flagship on-premises database platform.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 05/19/2025
Microsoft on Thursday introduced a public preview of its new Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server for Azure Database for PostgreSQL, aimed at simplifying the process for AI models to interact with enterprise data.
Despite its steep licensing costs, SQL Server continues to prove its worth over open-source alternatives in some key areas.
- By Joey D'Antoni
- 03/24/2025