Secure Future Initiative (SFI) patterns and practices

I wanted to share an important update from Microsoft that directly supports our shared commitment to cybersecurity: the launch of the Secure Future Initiative (SFI) patterns and practices. This new library of actionable guidance is designed to help organizations like yours implement robust security measures at scale. The SFI framework…


Microsoft Fabric Certification Guides

As data continues to drive innovation across industries, Microsoft Fabric has emerged as a unified platform for analytics, data engineering, and AI. With its growing adoption, Microsoft now offers role-based certifications to validate your expertise in Fabric. Whether you’re an aspiring analytics engineer or a seasoned data professional, there’s a…


Accelerating SQL Server Migration

Migrating SQL Server databases to the cloud has traditionally been a complex, time-consuming process. But with Microsoft’s new unified migration experience for SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc—now in public preview—the journey to Azure SQL Managed Instance is faster and simpler than ever.


Modernize and Secure Your SQL Server 2016 Workloads

Microsoft has just announced new guidance and tools to help organizations protect and modernize their SQL Server 2016 workloads as the product approaches its End of Support (EOS) on July 14, 2026. What does End of Support mean? Microsoft Lifecycle Policy offers 10 years of support (five years for mainstream…





SQL Server and Azure SQL Newsletter (June 2025)

There have been quite a few announcements since Microsoft Build 2025 and I wanted to make sure your team did not miss anything. Azure SQL Announcements: May/June 2025 Public Preview – Data Virtualization for Azure SQL Database Using Azure Metrics, Alerts, and Automation Accounts to start an XE session Unlocking…


Updates in SSMS 21 – Preview 6

Updates in SQL Server Management Studio: SSMS 21 Preview 6 and Copilot Integration Microsoft continues to push the boundaries of technology, offering tools and updates that significantly enhance database management, productivity, and security. This blog post will summarize three major updates: the release of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 21…


Migration Dashboard for SQL Server

Overview: Microsoft has announced the Migration Dashboard feature in the Azure portal, specifically for SQL Server instances enabled by Azure Arc. This dashboard provides a comprehensive view of your migration readiness and assessment coverage across all SQL Server instances. Key Features: Assessment Visibility: The dashboard automatically generates assessments for migration to Azure,…