Azure SQL MI End-to-end Demo Part for DBAs and Devs

Join us for a pure, demo-driven journey of a dozen incredible features for Azure SQL Managed Instance showing you the greatest and latest innovations enabling Database Administrators and Developers to achieve more.

Whether you’re a DBA, Azure Administrator, Developer, Business Intelligence developer, or of course any other data professional, these demos will show how you can achieve more with the exciting features that are available to you. Some of the topics we will cover are hybrid scenarios, performance and scale, application compatibility, workload modernization, compliance, data mobility/migration & business continuity/disaster recovery - and several more - in this fast-paced, demo-only session.

Mirror and Modernize: Bringing Operational and Analytical SQL Workloads Together in Fabric

Join this session to explore how Microsoft Fabric Mirroring enables real-time data replication. We'll demonstrate how to leverage mirroring in Fabric to enable real-time data replication from operational databases into OneLake, unlocking instant insights.

Also, discover how you can modernize on-premises SQL workloads into Fabric SQL. Learn how to modernize legacy data platforms to Fabric, including from pre-migration planning to post-migration optimization .Whether you're modernizing your analytics stack or building a new data platform, this session will equip you with the tools and knowledge to accelerate your journey with Microsoft Fabric.

Unlock SQL Server Migration and Modernization in the Era of AI

Migrating and modernizing SQL Server to Azure in the era of AI does not need to be complex or fragmented. In this session, we present a practical, end-to-end approach to SQL Server modernization spanning SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and Azure SQL Database Hyperscale.

You will learn how to modernize your SQL Server estate to take full advantage of cloud scalability and elasticity, while also understanding how to AI-modernize applications on Azure SQL.

We will walk through a complete migration journey, starting with database migration assessment using familiar tools such as SSMS and Azure Arc. From there, we cover target platform and SKU recommendations and conclude with near zero downtime migration to Azure SQL services. You will see how existing tools and migration options come together in a single, unified experience that reduces prerequisites, simplifies decision making, and accelerates modernization using a hybrid-first approach.

Once in Azure, we demonstrate how to further modernize workloads using AI and advanced cloud capabilities, including scaling and evolving applications with Azure SQL.

Join this session to engage directly with the product group behind these technologies, ask questions, share feedback, and learn about what is coming next on the product roadmap.

Unlock SQL Server Migration and Modernization in the Era of AI

Migrating and modernizing SQL Server to Azure in the era of AI does not need to be complex or fragmented. In this session, we present a practical, end-to-end approach to SQL Server modernization using SQL Server 2025 and Azure SQL, spanning SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and Azure SQL Database Hyperscale.

You will learn how to modernize your SQL Server estate to take full advantage of cloud scalability and elasticity, while also understanding how to AI‑modernize applications on Azure SQL.

We will walk through a complete migration journey, starting with database migration assessment using familiar tools such as SSMS and Azure Arc. From there, we cover target platform and SKU recommendations and conclude with near zero downtime migration to Azure SQL services. You will see how existing tools and migration options come together in a single, unified experience that reduces prerequisites, simplifies decision making, and accelerates modernization using a hybrid-first approach.

Once in Azure, we demonstrate how to further modernize workloads using AI and advanced cloud capabilities, including scaling and evolving applications with Azure SQL Hyperscale.

Join this session to engage directly with the product group behind these technologies, ask questions, share feedback, and learn about what is coming next on the product roadmap.

Simplify management of hybrid and multi-cloud SQL Server using Azure Arc

Managing SQL Server in hybrid and multi-cloud environments can be challenging. Azure Arc streamlines SQL Server operations across on-prem, edge, and even other public clouds. Discover how to use built-in capabilities like best practices assessment, performance monitoring, and migration tools to centralize insights, simplify daily operations, and get ready for migration to Azure.

Meet the product group behind these products to ask questions, provide feedback, and learn about the upcoming roadmap.

Modernizing Your SQL Estate: From SQL Server to Azure SQL and the Modern Data Platform

Most enterprises do not modernize their SQL estate in a single move. Instead, they evolve over time. In this hands-on workshop, you will walk through a realistic, end-to-end modernization journey across the Microsoft SQL portfolio, learning how to choose the right database for each workload.

We start with a traditional corporate application running on SQL Server and walk through a hands-on migration to Azure SQL Managed Instance. This phase focuses on validating compatibility, operational readiness, and application continuity as part of the migration process. Once on SQL Managed Instance, we show how teams can take advantage of a fully managed PaaS platform and the latest SQL Server engine capabilities, including modern developer features and deep integration across Azure services and Microsoft Fabric.

We then turn to Azure SQL Database Hyperscale to show what’s possible next. Teams can build new mission-critical applications directly on Hyperscale or seamlessly extend applications previously migrated to SQL Managed Instance. In both cases, Hyperscale provides massive scale, built-in resilience, and a modern cloud database platform without requiring teams to rearchitect their applications.

Finally, we look at how net-new, cloud-native applications can be built using SQL database in Fabric, and where Fabric fits within a modern SQL estate.

In this workshop, you will learn how to incrementally modernize your SQL Server workloads to Azure and evolve your SQL data estate using modern cloud capabilities. You will leave with a clear, actionable framework that you can apply in your own environment, whether you are modernizing legacy systems, building new cloud applications, or planning the next stage of your SQL modernization journey.

Modernizing Your SQL Estate: From SQL Server to Azure SQL and Fabric for AI-Ready Applications

Most enterprises do not modernize their SQL estate in a single move. Instead, they evolve over time. In this hands-on workshop, you will walk through a realistic, end to end modernization journey across the Microsoft SQL portfolio, learning how to choose the right database for each workload.

We start with a traditional corporate application running on SQL Server and, using the Zava company scenario, walk through a hands on migration to Azure SQL Managed Instance. This phase focuses on validating compatibility, operational readiness, and application continuity as part of the migration process. Once on SQL Managed Instance, we show how teams can immediately take advantage of PaaS platform and the latest SQL Server engine, including AI ready and developer friendly features, along with deep integration across Azure services and Microsoft Fabric.

We then turn to Azure SQL Database Hyperscale to show what’s possible next: teams can build new mission critical application directly on Hyperscale, or seamlessly extend applications previously migrated to SQL Managed Instance. In both cases, Hyperscale enables massive scale, built-in resilience, and AI-ready capabilities without rearchitecting the application.

Finally, we look at how net new cloud native applications are built using SQL database in Fabric, and where Fabric fits within a modern SQL estate.

This workshop emphasizes practical decision making over theory. You will learn when to use Azure SQL Managed Instance, Hyperscale, or SQL database in Fabric, how to modernize incrementally, and how to prepare your SQL data estate for AI. You will leave with a clear, actionable framework that you can apply in your own environment, whether you are modernizing legacy systems, building AI powered applications, or planning the next stage of your SQL journey.

Keynote

Meeting DBAs Where You Are: Simplifying SQL Server Migration with SSMS and Azure Arc

Migrating SQL Server to Azure does not have to be complex or fragmented. In this session, you will learn how SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and Azure Arc work together to deliver a unified, intelligent, and streamlined migration experience directly within the tools DBAs already use to manage SQL Server.

We will walk through an end-to-end migration journey, starting with an easy-to-use offline migration assessment in SSMS, followed by target and SKU recommendations, and concluding with near zero downtime migration using Azure Arc to SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines and Azure SQL Managed Instance. You will see how familiar tools and migration options come together in a single, unified experience, reducing prerequisites, simplifying decision making, and accelerating your path to Azure SQL with a modern hybrid approach.

Meet the product group behind these products to ask questions, provide feedback, and learn about the upcoming roadmap.

Azure SQL Managed Instance Demo Party

Join us for a thrilling, demo-driven session over a dozen incredible features for Azure SQL Managed Instance that will show you the latest and greatest innovations that enable Database Administrators and Developers to soar higher.

Whether you’re a DBA, Azure Administrator, Developer, Business Intelligence developer, or any other data professional, these demos will show you how to go father with the exciting features that are available to you. Some of the topics we will cover are hybrid scenarios, performance and scale, application compatibility, workload modernization, compliance, data mobility/migration & business continuity/disaster recovery - and several more - in this fast-paced demo-only session

Ask Me Anything: Migrating On-Prem SQL Server to Azure SQL – Real-World Experience

Planning to migrate SQL Server to Azure SQL and not sure where to start? Join this Ask Me Anything session with Microsoft SQL experts for open, candid discussion and direct answers to your migration questions.

This interactive panel creates space to discuss real-world migration projects, operational challenges, and product feedback, including unfiltered input shared directly with the people shaping the platform. The session also helps you understand the major pillars of Microsoft’s investment in Azure SQL, so you can provide feedback and make more informed decisions aligned with your migration needs.

Whether you are just starting your migration or modernizing a complex SQL estate, this session is designed to deliver practical, actionable guidance tailored to your scenarios

Ask Me Anything: Migrating On-Prem SQL Server to Azure SQL – Real-World Experience

Planning to migrate SQL Server to Azure SQL and not sure where to start? Join this interactive Ask Me Anything session where Microsoft SQL experts answer real-world questions about migrating to Azure SQL.

We will discuss common migration paths to Azure SQL, including Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure SQL Database, and SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines. Topics include choosing the destination, right-sizing the SKU, selection of migration method meeting your needs, and lessons learned from real customer projects. A key focus will be on Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server migration, which brings simplified end to end experience integrating assessment, management, and migration capabilities to SQL Server wherever it runs.

Bring your feedback, suggestions and questions about your migration projects and operational challenges. Whether you are early in your migration journey or modernizing a complex SQL estate, this session is designed to give you practical, actionable answers.

Advancing the Role of SQL Server DBA in the Era of AI: Becoming an Azure SQL DBA - Part2

This session will guide you through the journey of evolving your DBA role from managing on-premises SQL Server databases to becoming Azure SQL DBA in the era of AI.

You will learn which responsibilities to retain, which to share with Microsoft, and how to use the freed-up time to build cloud and AI skills. We will cover Azure SQL architecture across key areas such as high availability, BCDR, backup and restore, performance, connectivity, and map them directly to traditional SQL Server DBA responsibilities. You will also learn how to leverage Copilot and AI capabilities that can significantly boost DBA productivity.

Meet the product team behind these solutions to ask questions, share feedback, and learn about the upcoming roadmap.

Accelerate SQL Server Migration with Azure Arc and Copilot to Next-Gen Azure SQL Managed Instance

Discover how Azure Arc accelerates SQL Server modernization and migration to Azure SQL Managed Instance with a seamless, Microsoft Copilot-assisted experience. Explore benefits of the next-generation General Purpose Azure SQL Managed Instance, a fully managed database service that delivers a free performance upgrade, five times more databases, and ultimate flexibility in resource configuration compared to the previous generation, significantly improving your total cost of ownership.

Explore how Azure Arc provides a unified migration experience in the Azure portal: from automated assessments and at-scale views of your SQL Server data estate to provisioning SQL Managed Instance, real-time database replication, and cutover - enabling near-zero downtime migration. What once required weeks can now be completed in days. Confidently migrate, optimize, and unlock the full potential of your data estate.

This session is delivered by the Microsoft SQL Server product group, offering an opportunity to connect and network with the team behind these products.

Becoming an Azure SQL DBA - Advancing the Role of the SQL Server DBA

This half-day workshop delivered by Microsoft Azure SQL product group is optimized for SQL Server DBAs that want to learn how their role evolves in Azure and what are the skills that will make them heroes of digital transformation in their organizations.

You will learn how Azure SQL automates many common tasks and offers business continuity capabilities out of the box; what are the areas with shared responsibility; what remains solely in realm of DBA and what's the unique new value DBA can bring.

The topics include high availability, disaster recovery, backup and restore, performance tuning and troubleshooting, cost optimization, observability, security, compliance, connectivity, integration with Microsoft Fabric and other Azure services.

Return ticket from SQL Managed Instance to SQL Server – One-Click Reverse Migration and DR

In this 20-minute demo session, you will learn how to soar your data to new heights by allowing online database replication and bidirectional failover between SQL Managed Instance and SQL Server 2022. With your choice of primary, you will be flying your data supersonic between these two destinations using the link feature.

The feature allows you to connect your data across hybrid environments and clouds to achieve near real-time database replication between SQL Servers 2016-2022 and Managed Instance, including the industry’s first bidirectional data movement and online failover (Disaster Recovery) between SQL Server 2022 and SQL Managed Instance.

This session will show you the latest and most exciting updates to the feature, that will enhance its flight capabilities, such as for example the ability to create the link from SQL Managed Instance to SQL Server 2022 and get a copy of your data, reverse migrate online, set up a transparent connection routing, and many more.

You can decide to pilot your primary data on either Azure SQL Managed Instance or SQL Server, and offload baggage, such are R/O workloads, reporting, analytics and backups, for example, to the secondary. Even if you have migrated to Azure SQL Managed instance, you still have the option to return to SQL Server 2022 at any time - just set up the link and fly back supersonic.

Modern models of managing database fleets in Azure PaaS.

SaaS model is taking cloud application business by the storm and, as of 2023, according to Gartner research, the SaaS industry is worth approximately $195 billion, and it keep on growing. Learn how Azure PaaS first-class offerings are addressing SaaS model revolution. Discover some new and not-so-new Azure PaaS offerings can help you improve the management of SaaS applications, virtualize your environment and improve your overall management of the solutions at scale.

With the primary goal of these offering being focused on dramatic simplification of provisioning and management of database fleets of all sizes (including rebalancing for lowering the financial impact), join the Product Group in learning the current state of affair and helping us shape the future of this area.

Meet the PG: Azure SQL Managed Instance

Come and meet the Product team for Azure SQL Managed Instance. Discover & discuss the newest additions to the platform, get your questions answered and let us know what Azure SQL MI is missing to enable your business to achieve more.

Discover what's new in Azure SQL Managed Instance through an exciting Demo Party!

Stay ahead of the curve and discover in a single comprehensive session packed with a punch about the latest innovations we’ve built into the Azure SQL Managed Instance straight from the engineering product group. Get excited about uncovering new frontiers of technology innovation enabling new platform capabilities, tools for capturing and comparing performance, achieving new platform performance capabilities, being more flexible with greater data mobility across instances, as well as technologies that enable hybrid connectivity, authentication across hybrid platforms, enhance security, enable new programmability and new disaster recovery capabilities – we shall cover it all. Learn how these technological frontiers can help you and how you can apply them in your own work environment. 

Azure SQL Managed Instance Deep Dive by Microsoft Product Group

Join us for an advanced session on Azure SQL Managed Instance, a fully managed SQL Server Database engine that provides industry-leading performance and security. We’ll cover all product areas, including a deep dive into High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR), security, networking/connectivity, patching, hardware generations rollout, hybrid setups, and SQL features. This session is designed for professionals of all levels who are looking to deepen their understanding of Azure SQL Managed Instance. The content will be presented by the product group, the team leading and defining the product. Whether you’re a database administrator, BI developer, data engineer, or IT manager, this session will provide valuable insights and practical tips to help you get the most out of Azure SQL Managed Instance.

Ask the Expert - Group A (Thurs 13:40 to 14:00)

Got a problem? Don't know who to call? Bring it to SQLBits and get it solved by our panel of experts!

More information can be found here:
https://sqlbits.com/news/ask-the-experts-at-the-experts-lounge/

1. SQL and Databases: Ola Hallengren, Kay Sauter
2. Microsoft Fabric and Related Technologies: Devang Shah, Niels Nagle
3. Power BI and Data Visualization: Reid Havens, Kristoffer West, Kerry Kolosko
4. Azure and Cloud Technologies: Dani Ljepava

Advancing the DBA's Role in the Cloud: In the Cockpit of Azure SQL Managed Instance

With modernization of SQL Server workloads in Azure the role of DBA is advancing accordingly. Modernizing workloads in Azure might present challenges for DBA’s in determining which of the existing responsibilities to retain, which ones to delegate to Microsoft, and how to identify where to invest regained free time for maximum effect .

This session aims to clarify the advancement of the DBA role from on-premises SQL Server DBA to Azure SQL DBA. You will learn how your responsibilities from on-premises DBA map to Azure, and which new emerging opportunities await you in the cloud. On the example of fully managed PaaS service Azure SQL Managed Instance, one of the most compatible destinations for SQL Server workloads in Azure, you will learn which aspects of database systems are now fully or partially managed by Microsoft , what are the shared responsibilities between DBA and Microsoft , and opportunities for new skill development helping you become Azure SQL DBA superstar. The session will also provide guidance on the best practices and point out some of the most common pitfalls encountered in the redefined DBA role in Azure. The session will be delivered by SQL Managed Instance engineering product group.

There and back again: SQL Server 2022 <-> Managed Instance

In just 20 minutes you will see a demo of bidirectional database failover between SQL Server 2022 and Managed Instance, using the link feature.

The feature provides never-before possible hybrid connectivity and near real-time database replication between SQL Servers 2016-2022 and Managed Instance, including industry’s first bidirectional data movement and online failover (Disaster Recovery) between SQL Server 2022 and SQL Managed Instance

Need to move back from Azure to SQL Server on-premises, or anywhere else? No problem, use it all in reverse and replicate your online and near real-time from Managed Instance back to SQL Server 2022.

The Ultimate Freedom of Movement with SQL Server 2022 and Azure SQL Managed Instance

In this session we’ll deep-dive into the link feature, a revolutionary new hybrid capability bridging the SQL Server and Managed Instance that provides the ultimate freedom of movement between the two.

The feature provides never-before possible hybrid connectivity and near real-time database replication between SQL Servers 2016-2022 and Managed Instance, including industry’s first bidirectional data movement and online failover (Disaster Recovery) between SQL Server 2022 and SQL Managed Instance.

You don’t even need to migrate to the cloud to use it – remain running on your existing SQL Server and use the modern Azure services by offloading R/O workloads and analytics to the cloud. When ready to migrate, use it as the best possible minimum downtime migration option in Azure.

Need to move back from Azure to SQL Server on-premises, or anywhere else? No problem, use it all in reverse and replicate your online and near real-time from Managed Instance back to SQL Server 2022.

Embark with us on the innovation journey and hear directly from the Microsoft SQL engineering product group on how we’ve started this as an internal project codename Chimera to what became the link feature.

What will you learn?
- Learn about revolutionary new hybrid capabilities between SQL Server and Managed Instance, what it means to you and how you can use it. Understand best practices in leveraging the new capabilities in your environment.

- Learn how to use Azure for analytics and R/O workloads and without actually migrating to Azure from your SQL Server.

- Learn how to use MI link as an insurance policy for reverse-migrations, and as a foundation of your multi-cloud strategy.

- Understand the innovation philosophy and journey in building new revolutionary capabilities and what’s coming directly from people who walked this path.

Meet the PG: Azure SQL Managed Instance

Come meet the team that builds Azure SQL Managed Instance, Dani Ljepava & Niko Neugebauer. Plenty of time to ask questions & get guidance on getting to MI.

Azure SQL MI End-to-end Demo Party for DBAs and Devs

Join us for a pure, demo-driven journey of a dozen incredible features for Azure SQL Managed Instance showing you the greatest and latest innovations enabling Database Administrators and Developers to achieve more.

Whether you’re a DBA, Azure Administrator, Developer, Business Intelligence developer, or of course any other data professional, these demos will show how you can achieve more with the exciting features that are available to you. Some of the topics we will cover are hybrid scenarios, performance and scale, application compatibility, workload modernization, compliance, data mobility/migration & business continuity/disaster recovery - and several more - in this fast-paced, demo-only session.

A day with SQL Managed Instance

Spend a whole day with the Azure SQL Managed Instance Product Group to discover how to provision, connect, configure, tune, monitor, troubleshoot and manage your instances and databases, to get the very best out of them. 
 
Ranging from setting up basics’ aspects with the help of the Azure Portal, but also diving into the automation aspects, this unique Azure Workshop will help you learn not only the necessary basics of Azure SQL Managed Instance, but will provide you with the knowledge of how to achieve more. 

Learn, Build, Migrate and Tune – all within a single day with Azure SQL MI Product Group. 

Become successful through understanding and making the best out of the Azure SQL Managed Instance, Microsoft PaaS offering that is most compatible with SQL Server running either on-premises or in IaaS.  

Meet the PG: Managed Instance with Dani Ljepava and Niko Neugebauer

Meet the PG: Managed Instance with Dani Ljepava and Niko Neugebauer

Unlock New Value in the Cloud with Azure SQL Managed Instance​

Join us for a journey through the past, present and future of Azure SQL Managed Instance, where we will dive deep into the latest innovations to help you modernize your SQL Server-based apps at scale. The service has significantly evolved since its initial launch with new hybrid capabilities like the link feature, which connects SQL Servers hosted on-premises or any other cloud.

Learn more about the unlimited storage available to you via ADLS Virtualization, support for legacy applications with Windows Authentication, and the latest Query Processor innovations. Discover why SQL Managed Instance has leading price-performance for mission critical workloads compared to any other cloud, making it the best destination for SQL Server in the cloud.

Link feature for Managed Instance

With the link feature for Managed Instance, we’ve advanced the hybrid connectivity between SQL Server and Azure to the next level. Innovations in this space allow near real-time replication of data between older and current versions of SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance. Scenarios such are real-time analytics and offloading workloads to Azure are possible for all versions supported. See how to easily setup replication between SQL Server and Managed Instance and exercise some of these scenarios. Hear about the technology behind the scenes, best practices for using, monitoring and maintaining the link. Learn on how to get engaged with the product group and participate in shaping the future of the feature.

Feedback Link https://sqlb.it/?7365

10 Cool Things about SQL MI

In just 20 minutes We are going to entertain you with 10 cool things about Azure SQL Managed Instance that you might not know, but that can be extremely useful

feedback link https://sqlb.it/?7167

Becoming an Azure SQL DBA – Advancing the Role of the On-Premises SQL Server DBA (half-day workshop)

This learning pathway takes you on the journey of advancing the DBA role from supporting databases on-premises to supporting them in the cloud (Azure VM, Azure SQL DB and Azure SQL Managed Instance) through a comprehensive series of sessions. Modernizing workloads in Azure introduces challenges for DBAs in determining which of the existing responsibilities to retain, which are shared with, or fully delegated to Microsoft, and where to invest newly found free time to develop new cloud skills and excel as an Azure SQL DBA superstar.

In this series we will delve into understanding Azure SQL architecture and will compare it to on-premises environments, mapping the responsibilities of a traditional SQL Server DBA to Azure SQL DBA. We will identify shared, delegated and new responsibilities across various areas. These will include High Availability, BCDR, backup and restore, tuning and troubleshooting performance, monitoring, alerting, security, compliance, connectivity, and more. Discover how to leverage cloud elasticity, automation, cost optimization, management at scale, and utilize advanced Azure services such are failover groups and online database operations. Advance your skills learning about seamless integration with a myriad of Azure services helping your productivity, such are Fabric, Microsoft Copilot for Azure AI and others.

PASS Data Community Summit 2024

A day with SQL Managed Instance (full-day workshop)

Spend a whole day with the Azure SQL Managed Instance Product Group to discover how to provision, connect, configure, tune, monitor and troubleshoot and manage your instances and databases, to get the very best out of them.

Ranging from setting up basics’ aspects with the help of the Azure Portal, but also diving into the automation aspects, this unique Azure Workshop will help you learn not only the necessary basics of Azure SQL Managed Instance, but will provide you with the knowledge of how to achieve more.

Learn, Build, Migrate and Tune – all within a single day with Azure SQL MI Product Group.

Become successful through understanding and making the best out of the Azure SQL Managed Instance, Microsoft PaaS offering that is most compatible with SQL Server running either on-premises or in IaaS.

PASS Data Community Summit 2022