Modern SQL Server Features That Make Life Better

Being aware of new features for database developers and administrators requires a keen understanding of modern SQL Server features that can enhance performance, scalability, and efficiency.

This presentation delves into some of the latest advancements within SQL Server, including SQL Server 2022, offering database administrators and Developers insights into key features and functionalities that can revolutionize their approach to data management and performance.

Developers and Administrators will be introduced to the power of intelligent query processing, Query Store, and how these are deeply integrated into SQL Server 2022 to make troubleshooting queries and improving performance easier than ever. For example, we’ll learn how memory grant feedback and DOP Feedback work in SQL Server 2022 to enhance performance.

Developers will be excited about modern features such as verbose truncation warnings, updates in T-SQL that allow you to write less code, and how temporal tables can help answer the problem of how to trend data over time and fix data after a disastrous, unintended change to a table.

Four Focus Points In A New DBA Role

You’re a newly minted Database Administrator. You’ve landed your first DBA role or maybe you’re the new lone DBA at a company. Either way, you’re walking into the role a bit unaware of your environment. Where do you start from a technical standpoint? What should you focus on? What tasks should have your attention?

In this presentation you will learn the four areas that you should focus on first in your new role. You will be given specific steps you should take in those four areas so that you make a good impression as a competent professional who can be trusted. Not only will this help you achieve a sense of control and order to your environment, but it will help you build relationships with your fellow employees.

First delivered to the DBAVUG Meetup, which is a virtual SQL Server Meetup based in Boston.

Introduction to PowerShell for the DBA

You’re a data professional and you’ve heard about PowerShell, but you haven’t learned it yet. Perhaps you’re uncertain about how to get started. Maybe you’re not sure why you should use PowerShell to automate your SQL Server work or are not aware of all the great things you can do with it. After all, you already know T-SQL well and can do a lot with that to manage SQL Server.

In this session, you will discover several reasons you should be automating your interactions with SQL Server via PowerShell. Then, we will dive into how to get started with PowerShell, followed by practical actions you can take with PowerShell to be immediately effective.

Leveraging Query Store for Improved Performance

Query Store has become an indispensable feature for SQL Server performance monitoring and tuning. This session offers a Level 200 introduction and practical walkthrough of Query Store, focusing on its ability to capture, store, and analyze query performance metrics. We'll explore why Query Store was introduced, what data it provides, and how it empowers database administrators to identify regressions, enforce plan stability, and leverage Intelligent Query Processing features such as Memory Grant Feedback and DOP Feedback.

In addition to understanding how Query Store helps detect and fix performance issues, attendees will learn how to configure it effectively, including important settings like capture modes, cleanup policies, and custom capture thresholds. We’ll also cover features in SQL Server 2022 that enhance Query Store’s capabilities, such as query hints without code changes and persisted feedback.

To wrap up, we’ll highlight powerful community tools and scripts that help extract value from Query Store data and support real-world troubleshooting scenarios.
Whether you're new to Query Store or looking to deepen your understanding, this session will equip you to begin unlocking performance improvements in your SQL Server environment.

This is a 1 hour session. The target audience is a SQL Server pro who wants to understand why they need query store, how to configure it and what advantages it offers.