What is a Microsoft SQL Server? The Essential Aspects to Know

AccWorld teamOctober 21, 2024

Data rules the digital world. Every click, swipe, and tap creates information. This data needs a home. Enter Microsoft SQL Server. It's a suitable option for storing and managing data. From small startups to big corporations, SQL Server helps unify information. It makes data simple to use and understand. You will find it in banks and numerous other places. The SQL Server keeps data safe and lets you work with it fast. Let's explore what makes Microsoft SQL Server tick and why it matters to you.

What is Microsoft SQL Server?

Are you wondering Microsoft SQL server is an example of what? The SQL Server is a database management system. The server stores and recovers information for other programs. Think of it as a big and smart filing cabinet for storing digital information. You keep data in, and it keeps it organized. SQL Server finds data fast when you need it.

SQL Server works with many types of data. It can handle numbers, text, and even images. You can store customer info, sales records, or product details.

But SQL Server does more than just store data. It helps you use that data too. You can run reports and analyze trends with this server. SQL Server makes it easy to convert raw data into useful information.

Security is a big deal with SQL Server. It has tools to keep your data safe from hackers. You control who can see and change your data with this server.

What is Microsoft SQL?

SQL Server also helps your data work together. You can link different sets of data. This lets you see the big picture of your business. For example, you could connect sales data with inventory data of your company. It shows you what products are selling well and when to restock.

Speed is another strong point of SQL Server. This means many people can work with the data at the same time. It's fast, even with vast amounts of information.

Lastly, SQL Server plays well with other Microsoft tools. If you use Windows or Office, SQL Server fits right in. This makes it easier to use and manage your data across different programs.

Microsoft SQL Server Versions

SQL Server 2012

SQL Server 2012 introduced notable changes. It made working with data easier and faster. One cool feature was Always On. This kept your data available even if something went wrong with your system. Another new tool was Power View. It lets you make great-looking reports with just a few clicks. This made it easier to represent data to other employees in your company.

This version of the SQL server also improved how it handled big data. It could work with more information faster than before. This was great for growing businesses with lots of data.

Security got better too. New tools helped keep data safe from threats. You could better control the visibility of data.

For programmers, SQL Server 2012 added support for new coding languages. This made it simpler to develop custom apps using the SQL Server. Programmers also learnt what is Microsoft SQL server through coding languages.

Lastly, this version made it simpler to shift data to the cloud. You could keep some data on your computers and some in the cloud.

SQL Server 2014

SQL Server 2014 focused on speed and cloud features. It made databases run faster than ever. This was great for businesses dealing with more and more data every day.

One prominent new feature was In-Memory OLTP. This lets you keep often-used data in your computer's memory. This made working with that data much faster. Buffer Pool Extension was another speed boost. It used solid-state drives to make databases quicker. It was a cheap way to speed up older systems.

SQL Server 2014 also got better at working with the cloud. You could more easily move data between your computers and Microsoft's cloud services. Backup got an upgrade too. You could now back up your data straight to the cloud. This made keeping your data safe easier and cheaper.

For big data tasks, SQL Server 2014 added new tools. These helped you work with vast amounts of information more easily. Security wasn't forgotten in this SQL server. New encryption features kept data safer. It was vital for businesses dealing with private information.

Lastly, SQL Server 2014 made it easier to keep your system running. New tools help spot and fix problems faster.

Microsoft SQL Server 2016

This SQL Server was a big step forward in database management. It added lots of new features for security, speed, and data analysis.

This version made SQL Server more useful for all kinds of businesses. One key new feature was Always Encrypted. This kept data safe even when it was being used. It was great for sensitive information like payment details and credit card numbers.

Stretch Database was another terrific addition. It lets you transport old data to the cloud automatically. It kept your main database fast while saving money on storage. SQL Server 2016 introduced R Services for analysis of data. The R services of this server let you use the R programming language right in your database. It opened up new ways to understand your data.

JSON support was also new. This made it easier to work with data from web and mobile apps. It helped SQL Server fit better in modern IT setups. Query Store was a handy new tool. It tracked how your database was being used.

Temporal Tables were added too. These let you see how your data changed over time. It was like having a time machine for your database.

Lastly, SQL Server 2016 improved its mobile reporting. You could easily view reports on phones and tablets. This was great for people who needed data on the go.

Microsoft SQL Server 2017

This SQL server broke new ground in database management. For the first time, it could run on Linux. The big news was support for Docker containers. This made it easier to move and set up SQL Server. You could now run it almost anywhere.

Machine learning got a boost in this version. SQL Server 2017 added support for Python. This gave you more ways to analyze your data and make predictions.

Graph data support was another new feature. It helped you work with data that has lots of connections. It was great for social networks or supply chains.

Adaptive Query Processing made databases faster. It helped SQL Server learn and improve how it handles queries. It meant better performance without manual tuning.

SQL Server 2017 also improved how it handles lots of data at once. New features made it better at running many queries at the same time.

Security got even stronger and users had a better idea of Microsoft SQL server is an example of what. New tools help protect against attacks and keep your data safe.

Lastly, this version made it easier to move databases to the cloud. You could now back up and move databases with less downtime.

Microsoft SQL Server 2019

This version of the SQL server is built on the strengths of earlier versions. It added new features to make data management easier and more powerful. This version focused on big data and AI.

One key feature was Big Data Clusters. This lets you work with vast amounts of data from many sources. You could mix SQL Server data with other types of data. This was great for companies dealing with lots of different information.

SQL Server 2019 also improved how it works with AI. It added more support for machine learning. You could now use Java to create AI models right in your database. This made it easier to use AI with your data.

Data virtualization was another new tool. It lets you connect to many data sources without moving the data. This saved time and storage space. You could work with data from different places as if it were all in one spot.

This version also made queries faster. It used new tech to speed up how SQL Server finds and uses data. This meant quicker results, even with complex questions.

SQL Server 2019 improved its Linux support too. It added more features for Linux users. This made SQL Server more useful for companies not using Windows.

Lastly, this version made it easier to move to the cloud. The new features helped transport your data to cloud services smoothly. This gave you more options for where to keep your data.

Microsoft SQL Server 2022

SQL Server 2022 is the newest version among other servers. It brings big updates to make SQL Server work better with the cloud. This version focuses on flexibility and ease of use.

A key feature is the Azure Synapse Link. You can get insights from your data as it's created. This is great for making quick decisions based on fresh info.

SQL Server 2022 also added better disaster recovery. It can now use the cloud to keep your data safe. If something goes wrong, you can get back up and running faster.

This version improved how it handles time series data. This is data that changes over time, like stock prices. New tools make it easier to spot trends and patterns in this kind of data. Security got an upgrade too. SQL Server 2022 added new ways to keep your data safe. It can now hide sensitive data even from database admins.

Query performance got better in this version. SQL Server 2022 can now adjust how it runs queries based on your data. This means faster results without you having to tune the system.

Lastly, this version made it easier to use SQL Server with other tools. It works better with things like Spark and Azure Data Factory. This helps you use SQL Server as part of a more extensive data system.

How it Works?

SQL Server uses a client-server model. This means it has two main parts. The server part stores and manages the data. The client part lets users access the data. You send a request to the server when you want to use data. This server uses a unique language called SQL.

This language helps you talk to the database. You can ask for specific data. You can also update or delete data. The system organizes data into tables. You can link tables together to make connections. This helps you see how different data relates. SQL Server has tools to keep your data organized. It analyzes errors and addresses them.

It also makes sure data stays consistent. When you add new data, it goes to the right place. SQL Server can tackle the requests of many users at once. It makes sure everyone gets the correct data. It also prevents conflicts when people try to change the same data.

What is Microsoft SQL server used for?

The system has tools to make your queries faster. This saves time and resources. SQL Server also helps you back up your data. You can make copies in case something goes wrong. You can set this to happen automatically.

Security Features

SQL Server has numerous tools to keep your data safe. These salient security features protect your info from unauthorized access and misuse.

One key feature is authentication in the server. This checks that users are who they say they are. SQL Server can use passwords or more advanced methods like Windows authentication.

Once users are logged in, authorization controls what they can do. You can set permissions for each user or group. It lets you control who can see, change, or delete data.

Encryption is another vital security tool. SQL Server can scramble your data to ensure others cannot read it. This protects your information when it is stored and sent over networks.

SQL Server also has auditing features. These keep track of the activities of individuals in your database. You can see who accessed data and what changes they made. This helps you spot and investigate any suspicious activity.

To protect against attacks, SQL Server uses firewalls. It blocks unauthorized network access to your database. You can control which computers or networks can connect to SQL Server.

SQL Server also helps protect against SQL injection attacks. These are tricks hackers use to sneak harmful commands into your database. SQL Server has tools to spot and stop these attacks.

For sensitive data, SQL Server offers data masking. This hides parts of your data from users who shouldn't see it all. For example, it might show only part of a credit card number.

Lastly, SQL Server works with Always Encrypted. This keeps your data scrambled even when it's being used. This means even database admins can't see the actual data.

SQL Server works well with Microsoft Azure

Azure is a cloud computing service. It lets you use servers and storage online. You can use SQL Server with Azure in different ways. This gives you more options for managing your data. You can keep some data on your computers. You can put other data in the cloud or use both together.

Azure offers services that work with SQL Server. These can make your system more powerful. You can back up your important data to the cloud. This keeps it safe if something happens to your local computers. If your primary system fails, you can switch to a backup in the cloud.

This helps you keep working. Azure can also help you handle more users. It can add more power when you need it. This is called scaling. It helps during busy times. You can use Azure to analyze your data. It has tools that work with SQL Server data. This can help you find helpful information in your data. Azure also helps with security. It has extra tools to protect your data in the cloud. You can use these with SQL Server's security features.

Azure Virtual Machines

The Azure Virtual Machines work well with SQL Server. You can term a virtual machine as a computer in the cloud. Users have the freedom to install an SQL server on an Azure virtual machine. This lets you use SQL Server without buying new hardware. You can set up the virtual machine to fit your needs. You can choose how much power and storage it has.

You can add more resources for visibility when you require them. This helps you manage costs. The virtual machines let you run SQL Server just like on your computers. You can use all the same features. But you get the benefits of cloud computing.

You can access your data from anywhere. You can also set up multiple virtual machines. This helps spread out the work. It can make your system faster and more reliable. It keeps the hardware running. It also handles updates to the system.

Azure Arc

Azure Arc helps you manage SQL Server across different places. You can use it for servers in your office, in the cloud, or both. This gives you a single way to control everything. You can see all your SQL Servers in one place. This makes it easier to manage them. You can apply settings to many servers at once.

This saves time during the time of implementing changes. Azure Arc lets you use cloud features with your local servers. You can add Azure security to SQL Servers in your office. You can also use Azure monitoring tools. This helps you keep an eye on all your systems. You can spot problems before they cause issues. Azure Arc helps with updates too. You can manage updates for all your SQL Servers from one place.

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Azure Kubernetes Service works with SQL Server. Kubernetes helps run applications in containers. Containers are like small, separate environments for programs. You can use AKS to run SQL Server in containers. This gives you more flexibility. You can move your database quickly between systems. AKS helps manage many containers at once.

It can start new ones when needed. It can also stop the ones that aren't being used. This helps you use resources efficiently. You only use what you need. AKS can make your SQL Server more reliable. It can keep copies of your database running. If one stops working, another can take over and help prevent downtime. You can use AKS to update SQL Server with less interruption. You have the freedom to upgrade one data container at a time. This keeps your system running while you make changes.

Data Migration Opportunities

SQL Server offers ways to move your data. You can bring data from other systems into SQL Server. This is called data migration. It helps you combine data from different places. SQL Server has tools to make migration easier. You can move data from older versions of SQL Server. You can also bring in data from other types of databases.

The system helps make sure the data moves correctly. It checks for errors during the process. SQL Server can keep working while you move data. This means you don't have to stop your business. You can move data in stages if you need to. This helps with large amounts of data. You can test the migration before you finish it.

This lets you check for problems early. SQL Server works with Azure for migration too. You can use Azure services to help move your data. This can make the process faster and easier. You can also use migration to move to the cloud.

The Microsoft SQL Server is a potent tool for managing data. It offers several features to help businesses. You can use it to store and analyze information. The system keeps getting better with new versions. SQL Server 2022 brings more speed and new capabilities.

It works well with cloud services like Azure. This gives you more options for how you use your data. Security is a key part of SQL Server. It helps protect your important information. You can control who sees what data. The system also helps you follow data protection rules. SQL Server offers ways to move and update your data. Implement better business decisions with the latest version of the SQL server.