Join us live in Seattle or virtually online, but don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from the experts how to bring the full value of Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform to your organization.

This year, we continue the tradition of hosting a Microsoft day one keynote. We will also deliver a record-breaking 38 sessions, covering a wide array of themes and learning paths.  

We kick off the first official day of Summit on Wed., November 16. I invite you to join me and the Microsoft engineering team to learn how Microsoft’s Intelligent Data Platform—including data, analytics, and governance—can come together to help you get the full benefit of your data estate and do more with less. During the keynote, I will share new product announcements that you won’t want to miss, along with demos of some of the latest innovations from engineers like Anna Hoffman, Bob Ward, and Patrick Leblanc.

The keynote will be both live and in person at the Seattle Convention Center and live-streamed online and recorded, meaning registered attendees will have on-demand access. We highly encourage you to watch it live as we’ll discuss fresh topics and introduce some surprises along the way. Keep your eyes and ears open.

The event also connects you to peers and professionals while giving you the chance to talk with our engineers and advocates to learn about our latest solutions during our sessions and at our booth.

To register for Summit, visit the website and sign up today. Don’t forget to use the code AZURE175 at checkout to receive $175 off on the 3-Day, in-person conference pass.

Learn More

Learn more about our other sessions and Pre-cons in our post.

My team and I look forward to seeing you next week!   

The post PASS Data Community Summit 2022 keynote: Transform your data estate with Microsoft’s Intelligent Data Platform appeared first on Microsoft SQL Server Blog.

This year, DPS 2022 features eight tracks focusing on Azure Data: 

• Architecture 
• Azure Data Administration 
• Azure Data Development 
• Business Intelligence & Advanced Analytics 
• Data Science (AI/ML)
• Industry Solution 
• SQL Server 2022 
• Professional Development 
• Student Track 

The virtual platform offers a live Q and A session, a networking lounge, and a community zone. Additionally, attendees will receive lifetime on-demand access to session recordings. 

DPS 2022 offers an incredible opportunity to learn directly from our engineering teams, who will share the latest advances and insights on the Azure Data platform. 

• Bob Ward and Buck Woody from the Microsoft Data Platform team will deliver the keynote together. The keynote will highlight the latest innovations across the Microsoft Azure Data platform and share customer case studies. Bob and Buck will show you how to meet the needs of developers across the spectrum to leverage the new tools, processes, and platforms in the Intelligent Data Platform to create a data culture in your organization. Bob will go deep on the newest release in the Intelligent Data Platform—SQL Server 2022. 
• Microsoft Azure Data engineering teams will deliver over 65 sessions at DPS 2022. Hear the latest from the people who develop the tools you use every day and engage in live discussions. 
• Visit the virtual expo hall where you can connect with our team across SQL Server, Azure SQL, Microsoft Learn, Power BI, and more. 

Register now for a week of free training at the Data Platform Virtual Summit and receive all the session recordings also for free (streaming access). 

The post Register today—Free Azure Data training at Data Platform Summit 2022 appeared first on Microsoft SQL Server Blog.

Today, we are excited to announce the public preview of SQL Server 2022. Anyone can now download SQL Server 2022 preview to try the new features in this release.

SQL Server 2022 is the most Azure-enabled release of SQL Server yet, with continued innovation across performance, security, and availability. It is part of the Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform, which unifies operational databases, analytics, and data governance.  

SQL Server 2022 integrates with Azure Synapse Link and Microsoft Purview to enable customers to drive deeper insights, predictions, and governance from their data at scale. Cloud integration is enhanced with managed disaster recovery (DR) to Azure SQL Managed Instance, along with near real-time analytics, allowing database administrators to manage their data estates with greater flexibility and minimal impact to the end-user. Performance and scalability are automatically enhanced via built-in query intelligence.

Over the past six months since our private preview announcement, we saw tremendous interest in our SQL Server 2022 Early Adoption Program (EAP). Thousands of companies applied for our early adoption program, representing strong momentum relative to prior releases.  

Top-requested features for SQL Server 2022 EAP applicants included:

• Link feature for Azure SQL Managed Instance¹: To ensure uptime, SQL Server 2022 is fully integrated with the new link feature in Azure SQL Managed Instance. With this capability, you now get all the benefits of running a platform as a service (PaaS) environment applied to DR—allowing you to spend less time on setup and management even when compared to an infrastructure as a service (IaaS) environment. The general availability of the bidirectional disaster recovery capability of the Link feature for Azure SQL Managed Instance will occur after the general availability of SQL Server 2022.
• Azure Synapse Link for SQL: Azure Synapse Link for SQL Server 2022 provides near real-time analytics and hybrid transactional and analytical processing with minimal impact on operational systems.
• Microsoft Purview integration: SQL Server 2022 is integrated with Microsoft Purview, a unified data governance and management service, for greater data discovery, allowing you to break down data silos, as well as policy management for access control.
• Ledger: A new technology that brings the benefits of blockchains to relational databases, by cryptographically linking the data and their changes in a blockchain structure, to make the data tamper-evident and verifiable. By baking trust into the SQL Server Database Engine, Ledger makes it easy to implement multi-party business processes, such as supply chain systems, allowing participants to verify the integrity of the centrally housed data, without the complexity and performance overheads of a blockchain network. Ledger can also help customers streamline compliance audits, providing cryptographic proofs of data integrity to auditors and eliminating manual forensics.
• Intelligent Query Processing enhancements: We are expanding more scenarios based on common customer problems. For example, the “parameter sensitive plan” problem refers to a scenario where a single cached plan for a parameterized query is not optimal for all possible incoming parameter values. With SQL Server 2022’s Parameter Sensitive Plan optimization feature, we automatically enable the generation of multiple active cached plans for a single parameterized statement. These cached execution plans will accommodate different data sizes based on the provided runtime parameter values.
• Query Store: We are adding support for read replicas and enabling query hints to improve performance and quickly mitigate issues without having to change the source T-SQL. Also, Query Store hints arrive on SQL Server 2022. Query Store hints provide an easy-to-use method for shaping query plans without changing application code.
• Security enhancements in SQL Server 2022 include Azure Active Directory authentication, support for richer queries in Always Encrypted with secure enclaves, backing up and restoring certificates using the PFX format, and multiple other improvements to enhance default cryptography in SQL Server to meet the evolving threat landscape.
• Contained Availability Groups: Supports managing objects (users, logins, permissions, SQL Agent jobs, and more) at the availability group level using specialized contained system databases within the availability group.
• Multi-write replication: We are automating the last-writer wins rule. Now, when a conflict is detected, the most recent modification time will be chosen to be persisted on all replicas. This helps keep your multi-write scenarios running smoothly.
• Data lake virtualization and object storage: Query any data lake and backup/restore SQL to S3-compatible object storage.
• JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) data: New JSON functions to increase the ability to query and manipulate JSON data.
• Memory and concurrency: In-memory online transaction processing (OLTP) memory enhancements and system page latch concurrency enhancements.

Collaboration with our customers and partners

We have collaborated closely with customers and partners over this past half year to test these new features. We have received positive feedback about how the innovation in SQL Server 2022 will empower users to do more.

“Features like Query Store hints and the next generation of Intelligent Query Processing are awesome. The possibility of improving and maintaining great performance over time without code changes is getting better on every new SQL Server version.”—Javier Villegas, IT Director for DBA and BI Services, Mediterranean Shipping Company

“With the arrival of Synapse Link for SQL Server 2022, we can finally achieve near real-time analytics over our most important operational data, all without the need to build and manage complex packages and pipelines.”—Nic Hopper, Data Architect, Atrium Underwriters   

Learn more

• Read how you can innovate faster and achieve greater agility with the Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform and turn your data into decisions.
• Get started today by downloading the preview or deploying in Azure!
• For installing SQL Server 2022 public preview on Linux, see installation guidance.
• Learn more about the features of SQL Server 2022 by reading the documentation and watching the SQL Server 2022 Data Exposed video series.
• Dive into the technical details including installation guidance and stay up to date with the latest release notes.
• Let us know if you have any thoughts or feedback through our SQL Server feedback portal. We look forward to seeing how SQL Server 2022 will transform your business in the coming months and years.

¹Public preview for the bidirectional disaster recovery capability of the Link feature for Azure SQL Managed Instance will occur at a future date. Sign up to apply for early access to the capability.

The post Announcing SQL Server 2022 public preview: Azure-enabled with continued performance and security innovation appeared first on Microsoft SQL Server Blog.

As the lead sponsor, we will deliver content including the keynote, five full-day training days, and over fifty general sessions. With so many opportunities to educate, we are bringing the full Azure data team including folks from across the data platform, such as SQL Server, Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Azure Purview, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Power BI.

Start the week with my team for two day-long training sessions where you will have a unique chance to work directly with Microsoft engineering:

The Hands-on Azure SQL Workshop on March 8 will help you translate your existing SQL Server skills to Azure SQL. Bring your laptop and get ready to learn hands-on. You will gain a foundational knowledge of what to use when, as well as how to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the “meat and potatoes” of SQL Server in Azure: security, performance, and availability.

Migrate SQL Server to Azure on Wednesday, March 9 will help you migrate your SQL Server environments to Azure. In this session, the Microsoft engineering team will show you everything you need to know, including the tools and knowledge you need to make your migrations seamless, cost-efficient, and optimized for speed.

Other training sessions cover topics such as Azure SQL Database, Synapse Analytics, and Power BI.

All speaker proceeds from these sessions will be given back to a local charity.

The SQLBits event theme this year is Video Games—and in the “Level Up With Azure Data” keynote, Buck Woody has asked me to come talk about SQL Server 2022 and Azure Data. He assures me I will have help with some surprise guests so it should be interesting. It is always a fun keynote when Buck and I are on stage, and this year you really do not want to miss it!

You also have the opportunity to attend the Microsoft general sessions to learn about the entire Azure data platform.

Take a look at some of the learning available SQLBits 2022

See all the opportunities to engage with Microsoft engineering by heading over to our blog on Microsoft Tech Community, Ready for SQLBits 2022. And don’t forget to stop by our booth, where you can get your questions answered by members of the Microsoft team.

SQLBits is a marathon of top-quality training from global specialists, with two days of full-day training sessions and three days of general sessions. As always with SQLBits, Saturday, March 12 is free to attend. Meet with community leaders sharing their real-world experience and Microsoft product teams providing deep insights into innovations that meet your needs.

Register today for SQLBits 2022

Join Microsoft at this hybrid event for the latest on the data platform and a chance to see whether Buck Woody or I have the best arcade game skills!

Register to attend, and we’ll see you there, in-person, or virtually!

The post Meet us at SQLBits 2022 and level up as a data professional appeared first on Microsoft SQL Server Blog.

Deliver faster performance than ever before with SQL Server and Azure

Hear directly from Microsoft’s Rohan Kumar and senior Microsoft engineering leaders during the day one kick-off keynote as they take you on a journey to a new universe shaped by our past—and built to take us into a limitless future. The cloud has created a whole new universe and advancements in Microsoft data products and services are your bridge.

You’ll see how you can use your existing SQL Server and Azure skills, and learn about new tools and platforms available from Microsoft to deliver faster performance than ever before. You’ll see how to shape your data so you can harness its power to find a new galaxy of insights, answers, and predictions. And you will hear about new innovations that continue Microsoft’s rich heritage of data integrity and governance.

Additionally, in the special on-demand keynote, Microsoft Azure Data CTO Raghu Ramakrishnan and team will share a technical keynote and demos showing Azure Purview and SQL.

Register for the PASS Data Community Summit

Don’t miss this opportunity to see how Microsoft is uniquely positioned to provide you with an end-to-end data platform seamlessly integrating limitless database scale and performance, unmatched analytics and intelligence, and unified data governance.

After the keynotes, ground your learning with in-depth training in one of more than two dozen sessions Microsoft will be delivering. Hear the latest from the Engineering teams who develop the tools you use every day. After your sessions, don’t forget to visit the virtual exhibit hall where you can connect with our team across SQL Server 2022, Azure SQL, Azure Synapse Analytics, Microsoft Power BI, Azure Arc, and more.

Register for PASS Data Community Summit today.

The post PASS Data Community Summit keynote: a bridge to a new universe appeared first on Microsoft SQL Server Blog.

Visit the event website to register to attend the free online conference from November 8–12, 2021.

I am pleased to note that Microsoft will join this year’s PASS Data Community Summit conference as the Premier Sponsor. This partnership allows us to continue to support attendees through educational sessions, product deep-dives and announcements, and keynotes unique to Summit.

This year, we will also introduce free workshops delivered by Microsoft Engineering for the first time at Summit. These hands-on instructor-led workshops are designed to help you learn new concepts, test ideas, and ask questions as you go.

PASS Data Community Summit goes far beyond the typical virtual conference experience. Featuring up to five days of online technical sessions you will have exclusive access to the industry’s top experts and rising stars, who will help you develop as a professional and master new skills that you can implement immediately. Interactive Q&A sessions ensure that you can ask questions and problem solve in real-time.

Community educational sessions will be available in both live and on-demand formats, and sessions and activities will be accessible for all time zones. Registration for the general conference is free and attendees will receive unlimited access to view on-demand sessions following the event.

There will also be casual networking opportunities, including community-led group discussions and events, where you can meet like-minded professionals, reconnect with old friends, and build lasting relationships with a diverse, worldwide data community.

Register for the PASS Data Community Summit today

To register, visit the PASS Data Community Summit website. My team and I look forward to joining you at this event!

The post Boost your skills by joining Microsoft at PASS Data Community Summit appeared first on Microsoft SQL Server Blog.

DPS 2021 will feature five parallel tracks focusing on Azure Data (Development and Administration), Advanced Analytics, Power BI, and Artificial Intelligence. The virtual platform will give a truly immersive experience to the attendees by offering live Q&A, networking lounge, Azure Data + AI Gurukul (Technical Round Tables), and community zone. Attendees can attend sessions and network amongst peers and speakers, convenient to their time zones. Delegates will get the session recordings for 12-month on-demand access. DPS 2021 offers an incredible opportunity to learn directly from our engineering teams, who will be sharing the latest advances and insights on the data platform, providing in-depth training across key products and technologies.

Bob Ward, Anna Hoffman, and Buck Woody will be the keynote speakers for DPS 2021. The trio will showcase SQL from edge to cloud.

Microsoft Azure Data Teams are delivering over 40 sessions at DPS 2021. Hear the latest from the teams who develop the tools you use every day, and engage in live discussions. Visit the virtual expo hall where you can connect with our team across SQL Server, Azure SQL, Azure Synapse Analytics, Power BI, and more.

DPS 2021 features a variety of learning formats including breakouts, deep-dives, short-drives, and demo-only sessions.

Register today

Register for Data Platform Virtual Summit today and be part of an amazing week of training convenient to your time zone and receive 12 months of on-demand access to world-class learning.

The post Microsoft at Data Platform Virtual Summit 2021 appeared first on Microsoft SQL Server Blog.

Customers who choose Azure for their SQL Server workloads may initially opt for a straightforward “lift and shift” to virtual machines (VMs)—a great first step, but where do you go from there? Now more than ever, I get questions from customers asking for my advice on subjects ranging from squeezing more performance out of VMs to moving workloads to fully managed database services with near-limitless scalability and intelligent performance.

To help answer these questions and much more, we are hosting the Azure SQL digital event: Innovate Today with Azure SQL on May 4, 10:00 AM Pacific Time. During this hour-long virtual event, you’ll join Rohan Kumar, Corporate Vice President Azure Data, myself, and a full team of Azure SQL experts to learn how to build an effective cloud database management strategy that responds to today’s changing business requirements and tomorrow’s opportunities. You will have access to on-demand content to help you further modernize and innovate on Azure SQL. You will also hear first-hand experiences and best practices from customers who have become expert Azure SQL users.

During this event, you will:

• Learn how to build intelligent apps across your data workloads using the latest digital innovations from Azure SQL and attend on-demand sessions on topics like infrastructure as a service (IaaS) to platform as a service (PaaS) migration, streamlining app development with integrated services, and building IoT solutions on Azure SQL Edge.
• Watch Microsoft MVP and Microsoft engineering-led technical demonstrations of Azure SQL features, including serverless computing, Hyperscale, Azure Defender for SQL, and VM performance optimization.
• Hear from real customers about how they are transforming their organizations using Azure SQL right now.
• Get answers to your questions from a panel of Azure SQL subject-matter experts.

If that’s not enough, you’ll also have the opportunity to earn points while you learn during this event, automatically entering eligible participants into a drawing for exciting prizes (official rules). Register today for the Azure SQL Digital Event by signing up now at the Azure SQL digital event page.

The post Azure SQL digital event: Innovate today with Azure SQL appeared first on Microsoft SQL Server Blog.

On February 3-4, the Azure SQL and Azure Data Factory teams are partnering on a learning event for the community to come together to learn about Azure SQL and Azure Data Factory, meet the engineering teams behind these services, and learn how you can get started with using Azure Data Factory and Azure SQL together.

The digital event occurs across two time zones:

• February 3, 2021 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time
• February 4, 2021 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Singapore Time

Register now for the free digital event today! We can’t wait to meet everyone at the virtual event.

Azure SQL and Azure Data Factory

Many people are familiar with SQL Server and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS). These are services that global enterprise customers love for all their data and data integration scenarios.

Azure is a great place for SQL Server workloads. The Azure SQL family of SQL cloud databases provides flexible options for application migration, modernization, and development. The Azure SQL family is comprised of SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machine, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Edge, all of which are based on the same core SQL Server engine. Migrate your SQL Server workloads to Azure SQL and improve your total cost of ownership (TCO), accelerate your time to market, and operate more efficiently.

Azure Data Factory is a fully managed, serverless data integration solution for ingesting, preparing, and transforming all your data at scale. In addition, you can re-host your SSIS packages using Azure Data Factory, enabling you to realize significant costs savings. Azure Data Factory enables you to bring data from diverse and multiple data sources to Azure SQL and more.

At the digital event, occurring around the clock, you will meet and interact live with many members of the Microsoft Azure Data product group including industry experts Bob Ward, Buck Woody, Davide Mauri, Julie Koesmarno, Silvano Coriani, Mara-Florina Steiu, Arvind Shyamsundar, Anna Hoffman, Srini Acharya, Drew Skwiers-Koballa, Andreas Wolter, Mark Kromer, Sandy Winarko, Wee Hyong Tok, Ye Xu, Abhishek Narain, Linda Wang, Shirley Wang and more!

Data Exposed special

Data Exposed Live is coming to you on all major streaming platforms, namely Learn TV, Microsoft’s around the clock, free channel. The show, hosted by Anna Hoffman, airs live every Wednesday at 9:00 AM PT.

This digital event is a Data Exposed Special—kicking off with a special episode of Data Exposed Live at 9:00 AM PT. The event is packed with an exciting agenda, which also includes two Ask the Experts sessions.

We are looking forward to meeting the Azure SQL and Azure Data Factory community.
Register now for the free digital event today! We can’t wait to meet everyone.

Register today to:

• Learn about everything you need to know about Azure SQL and Azure Data Factory. From creating the right data architecture to the future of cloud migration, to deep dives into performance tuning, and more.
• Connect with Azure SQL and Azure Data Factory industry experts and get live answers to your questions.
• Participate in a global hackathon that runs through the week.

The post Around the clock with Azure SQL and Azure Data Factory appeared first on Microsoft SQL Server Blog.