I refresh my test SQL Servers at least monthly with a fresh VM. Setting up directories, installing SQL Server, setting up security, and restoring databases all take time. And I want it to be flexible enough where I can switch out files as they are updated, such as was the case with SQL Server 2025.| Databases – Infrastructure – Security
For those testing SQL Server 2025 before it officially releases, Microsoft has made the first release candidate available. There's a lengthy article on all the new features that are included in this release version.| Databases – Infrastructure – Security
Today's reality is that cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to develop better attacks. This is just the latest reported technique, probably because it's starting to be used more often. Like is often the case with cybersecurity, we're in an arms race between attackers and defenders...| Databases – Infrastructure – Security
If you’re not having success in convincing your organization to send you to this year’s PASS Data Community Summit, you could win a 3-day registration by submitting some basic informati…| Databases - Infrastructure - Security
I recently had to copy an Azure SQL database (SQL db) from one subscription to an Azure SQL Server instance ... Continue reading| SQL Studies
Alternate title: How do I tell how far I am on that command? This little command (frequently with a WHERE ... Continue reading| SQL Studies
In one of the sessions I attended during the Pass Data Community Summit the speaker asked “If master is in ... Continue reading| SQL Studies
Running a bit late this month for T-SQL Tuesday (it’s not exactly Tuesday is it!) but that’s Grant Fritchey’s (blog|twitter) ... Continue reading| SQL Studies
Recently I needed to use temporal tables. And not just for the job history table in a managed instance. In ... Continue reading| SQL Studies
I’m going to start out by saying I don’t know a tremendous amount about this subject. I’ll tell you what ... Continue reading| SQL Studies
My current position involves a lot of work with SQL Server Managed Instances so you’ll probably be hearing a lot ... Continue reading| SQL Studies
There are always bad actors who will seek to get access to and, likely, exfiltrate (exfil) the data. But they don't want to get caught; they don't want to tip off the fact that they are doing such actions. Especially in larger organizations with valuable data, the longer a threat actor can stay hidden, the more they can steal.| Databases – Infrastructure – Security
On August 6, 2025, Microsoft announced a vulnerability with hybrid deployments because of a shared service principal between the Exchange on-premises deployment and Exchange Online. The vulnerability is found in the on-premises side. Basically, if a threat actor can gain administrative rights to an on-premises Exchange server, they can privilege escalate to the cloud environment through that shared service principal.| Databases – Infrastructure – Security
Back in June I blogged about pig butchering and the amount of reported losses we're seeing here in the United States of America. This type of cyber scam is highly destructive because it's effective across all strata but is especially damaging towards the most vulnerable.| Databases – Infrastructure – Security
How long has AI been around in different domains? What was it called before we starting using the phrase, "Artificial Intelligence?" Is Clippy included in said history? Here is a 15 minute video that walks through the high points of AI and machine learning in several domains, including art.| Databases – Infrastructure – Security
The better skilled we are communications, the more likely we will be understood. Whether we’re talking work colleagues or our families and friends, being understood is more important than we …| Databases - Infrastructure - Security
Erin West gave the keynote for the 2025 Techno Security & Digital Forensics East conference on cyber scams. How bad is it? Well, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), in 2024 …| Databases - Infrastructure - Security