03.10.2021 - Deep Dive: Azure SQL Virtual Machine Sizing | Data Exposed Live

You choose a VM when your application requires more control over the computing environment than the other platform-as-a-service options offer. This can be due to vendor requirements, familiarity with virtualization, ease of migration and other scenarios. When selecting a virtual machine to host your SQL Server workload in Azure, you need to choose a virtual machine size that provides optimal performance and fits your organization’s budget.

We will cover topics such as the different virtual machine types that are most appropriate for SQL Server workloads, optimal memory-to-core ratios for various workload types, and features unique to Azure such as write acceleration that can help boost your performance without breaking the bank.

Watch Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeuegGS2HEU&ab_channel=AzureSQL

05.12.2021 Azure SQL Virtual Machine IOps, throughput, and Caching

Optimizing Virtual Machine storage is one of the most critical areas to master when considering a migration to Azure SQL Virtual Machine. Azure virtual machines have input/output operations per second (IOPS) and throughput performance limits based on the virtual machine type and size.

Additionally, OS disks and data disks will have their own IOPS and throughput limits. Workloads can be limited at either the virtual machine or the disk level. In this session we demystify storage and how VM sizing will impact performance limits. We will cover what you should consider when choosing Azure disks and storage pool configurations. We will discuss Storage Spaces and Storage Pools.

We will also simplify the correct block level, interleave, and the NumberofColumns settings necessary for an optimized storage configuration. Finally, we will review how to monitor IOPs and throughput limits of your virtual machine, the underlying disks, and the caching capabilities of the ephemeral disks and the storage cache.
Get ready, this is one of the most important sessions to get the best performance out of your Azure virtual machine deployment!

'Azure SQL VM Reimagined' content posted here:
https://aka.ms/azuresqlvmyt

06.06.2021 - 6.11.2021 SQLIntersection / Microsoft Azure & AI Conference

SQL Server and Microsoft Azure and AI Conference held in Orlando, Florida covering Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance, SQL Server, Azure SQL Virtual Machine and related cloud topics.

https://www.devintersection.com/#!/

Azure SQL VMs Today and Tomorrow: Optimizing for Price-Performance and Beyond

When hosting SQL workloads on Azure Virtual Machines, it’s critical to select the right size and configuration for optimal performance. In this session, we’ll explore the what's available today, including sizing & storage configuration and Azure specific features that deliver the best price-performance.
Finally, we’ll discuss migrations, multi-cloud, and enabling Azure Arc for unified management.

High Performance Azure SQL Virtual Machine with Premium Storage

Ready to unlock unprecedented performance and scalability for your Azure SQL Virtual Machines? This session dives into the latest advancements in SQL Server on Azure VMs, featuring high-performance VM series, cutting-edge storage options, and powerful monitoring tools to keep your infrastructure roaring at peak efficiency.

*Join us to explore:
-The 'monster' VM series (Mbdsv3, FXmdsv2, and NextGen) engineered to conquer mission-critical SQL Server workloads.

-Premium SSD v2 and Ultra Disk, smashing limits with up to 650,000+ IOPS and 10 GiB/s throughput for unmatched storage performance.

-Proactive monitoring of storage and VM health with Azure Monitor metrics, the IO Analysis Feature, and CoPilot for actionable insights and optimization.

*What you’ll learn:
-How to harness the cutting-edge capabilities of the latest high-performance VM series.

-The revamped storage provisioning experience with Premium SSD, Premium SSD v2 and Ultra Disk.

-Price-performance strategies to optimize your Azure SQL VM and storage configurations.

-Techniques to monitor key metrics like VM Cached IOPS and Bandwidth Consumed Percentage, ensuring smooth operations and preventing bottlenecks.

Leave this session equipped to supercharge your Azure SQL VM deployments, cut VM and storage costs, and tame even the most demanding SQL Server workloads with scalable VM and storage solutions.

Don’t miss out - drive high performance with Azure SQL VM and ensure peak performance across your deployments!

Built-in Intelligence with Azure SQL and SQL Server 2022

Intelligent query processing is a key component to help business-critical workloads improve when running at scale, while remaining adaptive to the constantly changing world of data.

In this session we will cover how the latest SQL Server versions improve performance with features and enhancements under the intelligent database feature family. These features include query store and intelligent query processing that helps improves performance and scalability with minimal changes to your application or database design.

We will cover the scenarios where intelligent query processing can have the most benefit for your application workloads and how Query Store can help make it easier to identify poorly performing statements and respond to regression scenarios. We will cover Query Store use cases such as Query Store internals, performance regressions, and improvements in the latest versions of SQL Server including the new Query Store Hints improvement.

HADR on SQL Server on Azure VMs: Everything you Need to Know

Configuring high availability and disaster recovery solutions can be complicated, especially with all the options available in Azure. If you're having trouble navigating all the different options for building a business continuity solution for your SQL Server in Azure, this is the session for you! In this session we will review the various technologies and services that you can leverage to build your highly available SQL Server, including things like Availability Groups, clusters, and even good old log shipping. Last but not least, we'll show off some of the great features in the SQL IaaS agent extension that can help you go from zero to highly-available SQL Server in minutes!

Intelligent Query Processing with Azure SQL and SQL Server 2022

Unlock the full potential of your business-critical workloads with SQL Server Intelligent query processing.

In this session we will cover how SQL Server Intelligent query processing is a key component to help business-critical workloads improve when running at scale, while remaining adaptive to the constantly changing world of data.

We will cover how the latest SQL Server versions improve performance with features and enhancements under the intelligent database feature family. These features include Query Store and intelligent query processing that helps improves performance and scalability with minimal changes to your application or database design.

We will cover the scenarios where intelligent query processing can have the most benefit for your application workloads and how Query Store can help make it easier to identify poorly performing statements and respond to regression scenarios.

We will also cover Query Store use cases such as Query Store internals, performance regressions, and improvements in the latest versions of SQL Server including the new Query Store Hints improvement.

Managing SQL Server with Azure Arc Unleashed

Unlock the potential of your SQL Server investment

In today's hybrid world, managing SQL Server instances scattered across on-premises data centers, edge locations, and multi-cloud environments can feel like herding cats. But what if you could bring them all under one Azure-powered umbrella?

Join this session to explore SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc, an innovating solution that extends Azure's robust management, security, and governance tools to any SQL Server - without ripping and replacing your existing infrastructure.

We'll start with key concepts: How the lightweight Azure Arc agent enables seamless auto-registration for your SQL Servers, supporting flexible connectivity modes (direct for internet-facing setups or proxy for air-gapped networks).
From there, we'll dive into unifying your estate with centralized inventory, advanced monitoring via Azure SQL Assessment and Insights, and effortless governance that scales from a handful of instances to thousands.

We will also cover Arc Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) and touch on Microsoft Defender for Cloud - Database Protection.

Get practical with real-world demos, including:
Azure Arc for SQL Server deployment made easy by leveraging the Azure portal and PowerShell.
Best practice assessment (BPA) analysis to identify SQL Server performance, security, configuration, and more where you can identify trends, what has changed from the last assessment, and analyze historical data.
Migration Made Simple: Use built-in assessments to gauge Azure readiness, identify optimization opportunities, and plan phased migrations without downtime.

Cost Control: Leverage pay-as-you-go licensing for dynamic workloads, with transparent billing tied directly to Azure Cost Management - perfect for bursting to the cloud during peaks.

Whether you're a DBA managing on-prem solution or plotting a hybrid future, this session arms you with actionable steps, troubleshooting tips, and battle-tested best practices to supercharge your SQL strategy. Walk away ready to assess, secure, and optimize your SQL Servers like never before.

Top Takeaways:
Centralize inventory, monitoring, security, and governance for SQL Server across on-premises, edge, and multi-cloud environments using Azure Arc.
Evaluate migration readiness and discover cost-saving opportunities with Azure SQL Assessment and pay-as-you-go licensing.
Apply best practices for Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server, from agent installation to policy enforcement and performance tuning.

Managing SQL Server with Azure Arc Unleashed: What's New in SQL Server 2025

Take control of your SQL Server investment—wherever it lives!
In this session, we’ll dive into the power of SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc, bringing Azure’s management capabilities to your on-premises, edge, and multicloud environments. Discover how to unify your SQL Server instances under one Azure-powered roof, from data centers to retail edge sites, with centralized inventory, security, and governance—all powered through automatic connectivity.
We’ll unpack features like SQL Server auto-registration with Azure Arc via the Azure Arc agent, supporting both direct and proxy connectivity modes for ultimate flexibility. Explore Microsoft Entra ID authentication for next-level security, Microsoft Defender for Cloud to squash security vulnerabilities, and pay-as-you-go licensing to tame dynamic workloads.

With SQL Server 2025, Azure Arc integration reaches new heights. Learn about the latest enhancements, including managed identity support for secure inbound and outbound operations—such as backing up to Azure Storage without managing credentials. We’ll also explore how existing features like automatic patching, backups, and monitoring are likely to be enhanced in this release, making it easier to effortlessly connect and manage monster SQL Server deployments—across Windows and beyond.
This session will provide practical insights, real-world scenarios, and best practices to drive your hybrid SQL Server strategy, ensuring you’re ready to leverage the full potential of SQL Server 2025.
Top Takeaways:
How to centralize management of SQL Server across hybrid and multicloud setups
Steps to lock down security with Microsoft Entra ID, Defender for Cloud, and new managed identity support
Assess Azure migration readiness leveraging SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc
Monitoring and governing SQL Server deployments with enhanced Azure Arc capabilities
Manage licensing and billing of SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc
Leveraging Best Practices Assessment for SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc

Modernize and Govern Your SQL Estate Anywhere with Azure Arc: One View, Zero Silos

Discover how Azure Arc delivers unified cloud management, governance, and security for SQL Server across on-premises, multi-cloud, and hybrid environments. Learn best practices, automate migrations, manage licensing and Extended Security Updates (ESU), monitor performance, and enforce compliance. Learn real-world customer success stories and unlock cloud innovation for your SQL estate—anywhere.

Managing Your SQL Server Footprint at Scale, Everywhere with Azure Arc

If you manage SQL Server - whether on-premises, in Azure, in another cloud, or spread across all three you already know the pain of not having a single, authoritative view of your environment.
Where are all my instances? Which ones haven't been backed up? Which databases are violating best practices? How do I track health across hundreds of servers without opening a dozen different tools?

Azure Arc changes that entirely - and in this session, we're going to show you how.

Built on the real-world examples delivered by the Azure SQL team, this session takes you inside the unified management experience for SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc, giving you the complete DBA playbook: from Arc-enabling your SQL Server estate, to writing powerful KQL queries in Azure Resource Graph that surface your entire extended SQL Server footprint across every environment you manage, to building live monitoring dashboards - all the way through to the next generation of Best Practice Assessment (BPA v2), which now runs without requiring a Log Analytics workspace, supports Failover Cluster Instances, and delivers a fully modernized results experience through a native Azure portal blade.

We'll cover the same KQL patterns and inventory techniques that have already helped enterprise customers standardize on Azure Arc helping them gain full visibility into their SQL Server estate at scale.

You'll leave this session with real-world KQL examples, dashboard monitoring strategies, and a deep understanding of BPA v2's 500+ best practice rules, all ready to apply the moment you get back to the office.

This is the session for the DBA who is done flying blind, ready to gain full visibility and get the upper hand on managing their environment.

Next Level Availability on SQL Server 2022

Learn how to take your availability strategy to the next level with even more availability and scale in SQL Server 2022. From the beginning, SQL Server has data protection and reliability as a core priority, as a result, Microsoft has a long history of innovation with data protection and availability strategies.
In this session we will focus on many of these improvements such as Distributed Availability Group improvements, the new Link feature in SQL Managed Instance, Availability Group performance and stability enhancements, Peer-to-Peer replication with Last Writer Wins (Write-Write replication), Contained Availability Groups, T-SQL Snapshot backup, and Accelerated Database Recovery (ADR).
Additionally, we will review SQL Server availability history, Disaster Recovery and High Availability concepts, and how to apply these concepts in SQL Server 2022.

Next Level Scalability on SQL Server 2022

Learn how the mission-critical capabilities in SQL Server 2022 can help your workloads achieve unparalleled scalability and leading performance, addressing some of the most common challenges for data professionals.
In this session we will focus on many of the storage improvements with advances in capacity management and maintenance, and enhancements to SQL Server scalability for systems with large memory and processing power. The storage engine features and capabilities we will highlight are tempdb improvements, buffer pool parallel scan, columnstore indexing, and other engine improvements."

Next Level Performance and Scalability on SQL Server 2022

Learn about the mission-critical capabilities in SQL Server 2022 and how they can help your workloads achieve unparalleled scalability and leading performance, addressing some of the most common challenges for data professionals.

In this session we will focus on many of the storage improvements with advances in capacity management, parallel processing improvements, and enhancements to SQL Server scalability for systems with large memory and processing power.

The storage engine features and capabilities we will highlight are a deep dive in tempdb improvements, buffer pool parallel scan, columnstore indexing improvements, advancements in intelligent query processing, and other core engine improvements.

You can't always throw hardware at the problem and sometimes more hardware can make the problem worse, learn how many of these scenarios are addressed in SQL Server 2022 - Looking forward to seeing you there!

Platform Innovations with SQL Server 2022 + Intel

Get ready for a journey through the cutting-edge platform advancements in SQL Server 2022! In this must-attend session, our Microsoft and Intel subject matter experts will take you on a tour of the latest platform innovations, demonstrating the new capabilities and solutions that are driving the next generation of database administration. Discover how Intel technologies are powering the SQL Server experience and hear about the latest hardware advancements from Intel that are shaping the future of the platform space. We'll dive into the backup compression improvement enabled by SQL Server 2022 and Intel® QuickAssist Technology (QAT). You'll learn how this integration allows for offloading of compute overhead, reduction of CPU usage, improvement of backup completion times, and reduction of storage consumption. We will also discuss the latest Intel hardware and where we are going next with SQL Server and Intel technologies. We will also cover Intel AVX-512 (Advanced Vector Extensions 512-bit) technology designed to accelerate the performance certain computing tasks, allowing the processor to perform multiple operations in parallel. SQL Server 2022 can leverage AVX-512 instructions to improve the performance of certain query operations by offloading compute-intensive operations to the processor. By utilizing AVX-512, SQL Server can take advantage of the improved parallelism and faster performance offered by modern processors, providing customers with faster query execution times and improved overall performance by offloading some of the work from the CPU to the processor. Don't miss your chance to be at the forefront of the platform revolution and discover the latest advancements in SQL Server and Intel technologies!

Selecting the Right Size Azure VM

When considering a migration of your SQL Server workloads to the cloud. It is critical to consider the performance characteristics of your existing workloads and understand any current pain points that you may have. This is important regardless of if it’s a migration to Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, or Azure SQL Virtual Machines.
In this session, Tim Radney will cover various performance metrics to collect and show how to use those metrics to determine what size Azure Virtual Machine that you’ll need to support that workload. In addition to the size of the virtual machine, we’ll dive into storage and discuss the various disk configuration options that are available.
At the end of this session, you’ll have a much deeper understanding of Azure Virtual Machine sizing, Azure disk configurations, and ultimately how to monitor disk throughput.

So, You Want to Be a Database Manager

Are you a DBA or IT professional considering taking the leap into a management role? Or, maybe you’re just curious about what it takes to lead a database team?
Whether you’re ready to get into a management position or you are simply exploring your options, join us for an engaging and insightful session where we will have a real world and honest discussion of the world of database management in terms of being responsible for an IT technical environment as well as the people resources that are looking to you to shape their IT future.

In this session, we’ll dive into the responsibilities of the role, bridging the gap between technical expertise and leadership.

You’ll discover how to:
-Align database strategies with business goals.
-Mentor your team to achieve excellence.
-Optimize resources for performance and scalability.
-Communicate effectively to meet organizational needs.
-Manage budgets, projects, and vendors confidently.

Beyond the technical, we’ll explore the essential skills that define a successful database manager: strategic thinking, decision-making, conflict resolution, and fostering a culture of innovation.

Through real-world examples and practical insights, you’ll learn how to transition from hands-on technical work to a role that blends leadership and vision.
We’ll tackle common concerns and misconceptions about moving into management, empowering you with the clarity and confidence to pursue this rewarding career path.

Packed with actionable strategies and real-world perspectives, this session will equip you to make an impact as a database manager and drive your organization’s data initiatives to new heights.

Database management isn’t for everyone - it’s about more than tech; it’s leading people and meeting objectives.
Think of it like a cook versus a chef, or a musician versus a conductor: it’s about vision, not just execution.

It is important to understand your own personal reasons for going into leadership and what it means to lead a team.

Join us to unlock the secrets of leading database teams and transforming data into a strategic asset.

So, You Want to Be a SQL Server DBA

If you are new to technology and curious about SQL Server and database administration, maybe you are interested in becoming a DBA and you are already in another IT role, or you may be an experienced DBA and are looking for a fresh perspective - if any of these scenarios sounds like where you are at - Join us for a fun and engaging session!

Join us to master the art and science of being a SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA). This session is designed for aspiring DBAs and IT professionals, where we will unveil the most critical responsibilities and skills needed to excel in managing SQL Server databases in this hybrid world.

From ensuring data availability through robust backup and recovery strategies to the basics of optimizing performance with indexing and query tuning, you'll learn the key areas that demand your attention.

Discover how to secure databases against threats, automate repetitive tasks for efficiency, and leverage tools like SQL Server Agent and PowerShell. Beyond technical expertise, explore essential soft skills -communication, and continuous learning - that set great DBAs apart.

This session is packed with practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable tips, this talk will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to thrive as a SQL Server DBA.

Join us to uncover what it takes to safeguard and optimize one of an organization’s most valuable assets: its data.

So, You Want to Be a SQL Server DBA?

If you are new to technology and curious about SQL Server and database administration, maybe you are interested in becoming a DBA and you are already in another IT role, or you may be an experienced DBA and are looking for a fresh perspective - if any of these scenarios sounds like where you are at - Join us for a fun and engaging session!

Join us to master the art and science of being a SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA). This session is designed for aspiring DBAs and IT professionals, where we will unveil the most critical responsibilities and skills needed to excel in managing SQL Server databases in this hybrid world.

From ensuring data availability through robust backup and recovery strategies to the basics of optimizing performance with indexing and query tuning, you'll learn the key areas that demand your attention.

Discover how to secure databases against threats, automate repetitive tasks for efficiency, and leverage tools like SQL Server Agent and PowerShell. Beyond technical expertise, explore essential soft skills -communication, and continuous learning - that set great DBAs apart.

We will also discuss how we use AI in our day-to-day lives as a database administrator - and how you can use it to maximize your effectiveness in ways you may not have considered.

This session is packed with practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable tips, this talk will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to thrive as a SQL Server DBA.

Join us to uncover what it takes to safeguard and optimize one of an organization’s most valuable assets: its data.

SQL Server 2022 tempdb - The Uncontended

Over the years, there have been many recommendations regarding configuration options for tempdb.
tempdb is used by every database workload for temporary storage, and additionally for internal operations.
So, it’s important to get SQL Server’s tempdb as optimal as possible.

The behavior of tempdb has also changed over time, but what hasn't changed is the criticality of tempdb and how its proper use and configuration can have major implications in the performance of your application.

In this session we will discuss some of the improvements with tempdb in the latest versions of SQL Server and what good tempdb practices look like today.
We will also discuss the improvements in SQL Server that will unlock scalability of tempdb-heavy workloads now and into the future.

SQL Server has improved tempdb in every single release and SQL Server 2022 is no exception.

SQL Server 2022 - Next Level Scalability and Availability

In this session we will focus on the scalability and availability improvements in SQL Server 2022 driving advances for mission critical applications.

We will highlight scalability improvements in tempdb, buffer pool parallel scan and other engine improvements designed for predicable scalability and performance.

We will also focus on availability improvements in AlwaysOn Availability Groups with Contained availability group, parallel redo enhancements, and improved throughput for Distributed Availability Groups (DAG).

Finally, we will cover multi-write replication to enable multi-master writes across multiple locations.

We look forward to seeing you! Join us to talk about how your applications can maximize scalability and availability with SQL Server 2022.

SQL Server 2025: Mastering High Availability, Disaster Recovery, and Business Continuity

In today’s data-driven world, ensuring your SQL Server is always available, recoverable, and resilient is a top priority—whether it’s running on-premises, in the cloud, or across hybrid environments. SQL Server 2025 builds on Microsoft’s long-standing commitment to data protection and availability, delivering innovative features to simplify HA/DR configuration, enhance performance, and ensure business continuity across any infrastructure.

Join this session to explore how SQL Server 2025 empowers you to design and implement robust HA and DR solutions tailored to your needs. We’ll cover:
New Features in SQL Server 2025:
Persisted Statistics on Secondary Replicas: Ensure consistent performance during failovers.
Optimized Locking: Boost concurrency and uptime with TID Locking and Lock After Qualification.
Fabric Mirroring: Achieve near real-time replication to Microsoft Fabric’s OneLake for DR and zero-ETL analytics.
Automatic Backups via Azure Arc: Streamline disaster recovery with cloud-managed automation.
Azure-Specific HA/DR Options:
Simplify business continuity in the cloud using Availability Groups, clusters, log shipping, and the SQL IaaS agent extension—going from zero to highly available in minutes.
Hybrid and On-Premises Enhancements:
Leverage improvements from SQL Server 2022 and beyond, including Distributed Availability Groups, Contained Availability Groups, Peer-to-Peer replication, T-SQL Snapshot Backup, and Accelerated Database Recovery (ADR), plus the Managed Instance Link for hybrid scenarios.
Business Continuity with Azure Arc:
Centralize management, automate patching, and monitor HA/DR deployments across hybrid environments to minimize downtime and maintain data integrity.
This session will also provide a brief history of SQL Server’s availability innovations, clarify key HA and DR concepts, and share real-world scenarios and best practices. Whether you’re navigating Azure’s diverse HA/DR options or optimizing on-premises and hybrid deployments, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to elevate your organization’s data resilience using SQL Server 2025.

SQL Server on Azure VM - Configuring for Price-Performance

When selecting a virtual machine to host your SQL Server workload in Azure, you need to choose a virtual machine size that provides optimal performance and fits your organization’s budget. There are a number of different compute and storage options in Azure, so choosing the configuration that gives you the best price-performance for your workload can be a challenge. In this session, we will cover topics such as the different virtual machine types that are most appropriate for SQL Server workloads (including the new Ebdsv5 series), configuring storage, and features unique to Azure such as host caching and write acceleration that can help boost your performance without breaking the bank.

SQL Server and Intel: Unlock Better SQL Performance and Scalability

There is more data now than ever before with only a small fraction of the ingested data ever being processed. And as we continue to produce data at record levels, systems can barely keep up with demands. To address these challenges, we will cover the benefits of using SQL Server 2019 / 2022 with Intel technology – optimized for performance and scalability. We will discuss how SQL Server can take advantage of Intel Optane™ Persistent Memory to improve scalability, how Intel QuickAssist Technology (a new SQL Server 2022 feature) improves backup performance and capacity, and finally we will highlight new storage engine features in SQL Server 2022.

Feedback Link - https://sqlb.it/?7196

SQL Server on Azure VM - Configuring for Price-Performance

Are you looking for the most optimal, right-sized virtual machine to host your SQL Server workload in Azure?

In this session, we will cover everything you need to know about choosing the right virtual machine, sized for your workloads that provides optimal performance and fits your organization’s budget. We will dive into the different compute and storage options in Azure and help you choose the configuration that gives you the best price-performance. You will learn about the different virtual machine types that are most appropriate for SQL Server workloads (including the new Ebdsv5 series), choosing and configuring storage, as well as features unique to Azure such as host caching and write acceleration that can help boost your performance without breaking the bank.

We will cover the latest improvements regarding premium v2 storage, the latest Azure SQL Virtual Machine sizes such as the Ebdsv5-series and best practices that would help improve SQL Server performance on an Azure Virtual Machine.

Do not miss out on this exciting session!

SQL SERVER ON AZURE VM - CONFIGURING FOR PRICE-PERFORMANCE

When selecting a virtual machine to host your SQL Server workload in Azure, you need to choose a virtual machine size that provides optimal performance and fits your organization’s budget.

There are a number of different compute and storage options in Azure, so choosing the configuration that gives you the best price-performance for your workload can be a challenge.

In this session, we will cover topics such as the different virtual machine types that are most appropriate for SQL Server workloads (including the new Ebdsv5 series), configuring storage, SQL Sand features unique to Azure such as host caching and write acceleration that can help boost your performance without breaking the bank.

Tame the Beast: Scaling Azure SQL VM with Premium Storage

Ready to unlock unprecedented performance and scalability for your Azure SQL Virtual Machines? This session dives into *the latest* advancements in SQL Server on Azure VMs, featuring high-performance VM series, cutting-edge storage options, and powerful monitoring tools to keep your infrastructure roaring at peak efficiency.

*Join us to explore:
-The 'monster' VM series (Ebdsv6, Mbdsv3, FXmdsv2) engineered to conquer mission-critical SQL Server workloads and some brand-new options.

-Premium SSD v2 and Ultra Disk, smashing limits with up to 650,000+ IOPS and 10 GiB/s throughput for unmatched storage performance.

-Proactive monitoring of storage and VM health with Azure Monitor metrics, the IO Analysis Feature for actionable insights and optimization.

*What you’ll learn:
-How to harness the cutting-edge capabilities of the latest high-performance VM series.

-The revamped storage provisioning experience with Premium SSD, Premium SSD v2 and Ultra Disk.

-Price-performance strategies to optimize your Azure SQL VM and storage configurations.

-Techniques to monitor key metrics ensuring smooth operations and preventing bottlenecks.

Leave this session equipped to supercharge your Azure SQL VM deployments, cut costs, and tame even the most demanding SQL Server workloads with scalable VM and storage solutions.

Don’t miss out - awaken the monster and ensure peak performance across your infrastructure!

SQL Server Performance Monitoring: A Deep Dive with Tips and Tricks

Monitoring SQL Servers in the enterprise can be complex and it is difficult to get a real assessment of a single SQL Server instance and much more difficult to get the right performance health assessment from multiple servers in your enterprise.

Additionally, performance monitor counters aren't clear which ones to use and how to match these performance counters to DMV and wait statistics outputs.

In this session, we step way outside the box. We'll start with how Microsoft itself collects diagnostic data using SQL Log Scout, SQLdiag/PSSDIAG, and the PAL tool for threshold analysis these are the same tools CSS support engineers use when your escalation lands on their desk.

From there, we dive deep into PerfMon composite templates as deployable code, building your own custom performance counters using the SQL Server: User Settable Object counters, leveraging Resource Governor as a pure monitoring engine, automating alerting pipelines with PowerShell, and mining SQL Server's built-in black box - Ring Buffers and the always-on system_health session.

Every topic includes real demos and scripts you can take home and use Monday morning.

This is one of the sessions I can guarantee you will learn something new and valuable as we will be touching on some unique approaches and techniques for SQL Server performance monitoring.

Unleashing the Power of SQL Server 2025's Hybrid Capabilities

In today’s data-driven landscape, organizations are increasingly embracing hybrid environments to harness the strengths of both on-premises and cloud resources. However, managing data across these platforms can be complex and resource-intensive.
SQL Server 2025 rises to this challenge, offering a suite of innovative hybrid capabilities designed to simplify data integration, enhance security, and unlock advanced analytics across your entire data estate.

Join this session to explore how SQL Server 2025 empowers you to seamlessly bridge on-premises and cloud environments. We’ll dive into the following key features:
Fabric Mirroring: Achieve near real-time replication to Microsoft Fabric’s OneLake for zero-ETL analytics, transforming your data into actionable insights without the hassle of traditional data pipelines.
Azure Arc Integration: Leverage cloud-based tools for automatic patching, backups, monitoring, and pay-as-you-go licensing to streamline management of your on-premises SQL Server instances.
Managed Identity Support: Secure your hybrid workflows with credential-free access to Azure resources, enhancing compliance and reducing security risks.
Change Event Streaming: Enable real-time data integration with Azure Event Hubs and Kafka, powering event-driven architectures that span hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Vector Search and AI Integration: Utilize built-in vector search capabilities and AI model management to enhance data retrieval and analytics, leveraging familiar T-SQL syntax.
Distributed Availability Groups: Improve synchronization and high availability across hybrid environments, ensuring your data is always accessible and secure.
Whether you’re a database administrator, data engineer, or IT decision-maker, this session will provide you with the insights and strategies needed to maximize the value of SQL Server 2025’s hybrid capabilities. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and elevate your organization’s data management strategy

Unleash the Beast: Scaling Azure SQL Virtual Machine with Premium Storage

Ready to unleash monster performance and scalability from your Azure SQL Virtual Machines? This session dives deep into the latest advancements in SQL Server on Azure VMs and the power of Premium Storage.

Join us to explore the newest VM series—our 'monster' lineup, including the Mbsv3, Mbdsv3, FXmsv2, and FXmdsv2 - built to attack your mission-critical SQL Server workloads.

Discover how these monsters, paired with Premium SSD v2 and Ultra Disk, smash through limits with up to 650,000+ IOPS, 10 GiBs of throughput deliver unmatched storage performance for even the most demanding SQL Server workloads.

We’ll walk through:
-The cutting-edge capabilities of the newest high-performance VM series
-The revamped storage provisioning experience with Premium SSD v2 and Ultra Disk
-Price-performance options for Azure SQL VM + storage
-Gain insights on storage health with the new IO Analysis Feature

Leave this session armed with the knowledge to supercharge your Azure SQL VM deployments and tame the toughest workloads.

Don’t miss out - awaken the monster with new scalable Azure VM and storage options!

Unlocking Performance and Scalability with Azure SQL VM v.Next + Storage Capabilities

In this session we will discuss advancements with SQL Server on Azure VMs and premium storage.

Join us for an in-depth session on the latest advancements in SQL Server on Azure virtual machines and the updated storage experience with Premium SSD v2. This session will cover the newest virtual machine series, including the high performance Mbsv3, Mbdsv3, FXmsv2, and FXmdsv2 VM series.

We'll explore how these new VM series are designed to handle mission critical SQL Server workloads, making them ideal for various SQL Server applications.

Additionally, we will cover the improved storage provisioning experience performance and the capabilities of Premium SSD v2, which with our latest Azure SQL VMs drives 400,000 IOPS and beyond depending on the VM series, improving storage performance for the most demanding workloads.

Attendees will gain insights into the practical applications of these new VM series and storage solutions, including best practices for deployment and optimization.

Best Practices Assessment (BPA) for SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc

Unlock the full potential of your SQL Server environment with Azure Arc’s powerful assessment capability with Best Practices Assessment (BPA) for SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc.

This session dives into how to evaluate SQL Server instances on-premises and across hybrid setups - using the SQL Server BPA feature via the Azure portal.

Discover how to pinpoint performance bottlenecks, security risks, and configuration gaps with precision and turn insights into action.

We’ll explore Azure Arc’s built-in assessment rules, including the Best Practices Assessment (BPA), designed to benchmark your SQL Server deployments against industry standards.

Learn to spot deprecated features, fine-tune trace flag usage, and evaluate SQL Server configurations - all from a centralized Azure portal experience.

Generate detailed reports, track findings over time, and optimize for performance, security, or hybrid readiness.

We will also cover the new features added in BPA v2 and want your feedback on what to include in the next version!

With demos, real-world examples such as identifying unsupported features & optimizing system settings - this session equips you to elevate your SQL Server management game.

Top 5 Takeaways:
* Learn how to assess SQL Server instances across hybrid environments with Azure Arc
* Techniques to spot and resolve performance and security issues efficiently
* Steps to run the Best Practices Assessment (BPA) and generate actionable reports in the Azure portal
* Best practices to align SQL Server configurations with industry standards
* Strategies to optimize workloads based on assessment-driven insights