My top features of SQL Server 2025 for Business Intelligence

Some time ago, Microsoft announced the release of a new version of SQL Server. This made me happy, mainly because in the storm of everything Fabric, Copilot, and cloud, sturdy technology still has a place, and Microsoft hasn't forgotten that. Companies still rely on on-premises systems that require databases. And running everything on-premises is still … Continue reading My top features of SQL Server 2025 for Business Intelligence

How to set the Copilot default execution mode in SSMS 21

This is going to be a short blog post, as it serves to highlight a new setting found in SSMS 21.4.12. Tell me more! Well, if you go to the Tools menu in SSMS and click on Options, you will see, unsurprisingly, the options. Locate your Copilot option and click on the Azure OpenAI settings. … Continue reading How to set the Copilot default execution mode in SSMS 21

Speaking experiences at Data Céilí

This month marked a new experience for me, as I spoke at the Data Céilí event in Dublin. I had never been in Dublin before, nor in Ireland. As the weather turned warm and sunny in the Netherlands, I looked forward to lush green hills, glorious views, and amazing people. Rain Well, that idea quickly … Continue reading Speaking experiences at Data Céilí

DP-700 training: Implement mirroring

If you come from an SQL Server background, mirroring will be familiar to you. It may be good or bad, but hopefully not at a nightmare level. Whatever your association with database mirroring, it is also available within Microsoft Fabric. What is mirroring If you're not coming from a SQL Server background, or any data … Continue reading DP-700 training: Implement mirroring

Is Microsoft SSMS Copilot the Future of Database Management?

Today, May 19th, 2025, is the keynote day of Microsoft Build, where Microsoft announces its big new tech innovations. You won't be surprised; there's a lot of Copilot in the announcements. You can't get around it if you have any toolset in the cloud; there will be AI waiting for you to help you. Bad … Continue reading Is Microsoft SSMS Copilot the Future of Database Management?

Loadtesting SQL, the sequel

Some time ago, I wrote a number of blogposts comparing the different Azure SQL options to give you some idea about performance, differences between tiers and differences between the Stock Keeping Units (SKU's). This was done by creating data in the database itself and review the metrics. This works fine and gave a good overview … Continue reading Loadtesting SQL, the sequel

DP-700 training: data masking

Data security is the most important part of our job as data engineers and data architects. There are very few use cases where people need to see all the data in full detail. I know, customers take a different view on this but in reality, do they really need every single detail? No, they do … Continue reading DP-700 training: data masking

DP-700 Training: Data transformation options

Welcome to my Ted Talk, data transformation is done in T-SQL. Thank you. Well, yes once upon a time, maybe. Nowadays there are many more ways that lead to the dark side (also known as data vault) and the happy side (also known as the star schema or dimensional model). Did I lose you yet? … Continue reading DP-700 Training: Data transformation options

DP-700 training: create windowing functions

Let's start this blog with a personal opinion: I love windowing functions. Sounds like a good start of this post? Cool, let's keep going. What is a windowing function? There's a lot you can read about it, but in short it comes down to creating a subset in your query result where you apply a … Continue reading DP-700 training: create windowing functions

2024 in review, 2025 in preview

Hi! 2024 is (almost) over and we're heading into the preview of 2025. Let's see how we get through this trial period of the new year. Let's start with looking back on the year that's behind us all. What a year it’s been! 2024 had a lot going for it, also enough things to, as … Continue reading 2024 in review, 2025 in preview