Prepare For the First Public Preview of SQL Server 2016 On 1 June 2016

👤 Andrew Jackson | Modified: May 8th, 2023|SQL Server 2016 | 5 Minutes Reading

Overview

SQL Server is Microsoft’s crown jewel database product that has been in existence for more than a decade. It is the most sought after database solution leveraged by the users, whether implemented as On-premises or in Azure model. This latest edition will prove to be the foundation of data strategy and innovations of Microsoft strategy delivering an effectual and end-to-end management solution for the applications.

This most awaited version of SQL Server will make its debut on June 1, 2016. This will enable the users to create business critical and intelligent applications with highly secured databases.

Contrast with Earlier Versions

SQL Server 2016 in contrast to the earlier versions will not solely emphasize on Azure support. Rather, it will accentuate in the direction of building a common base code for databases hosted on Azure cloud as well as the database hosted by On-Premise SQL Server. The most dominating feature of SQL Server 2016 over previous versions will be its integration of PolyBase. Post introduction of SQL Server 2016 on 1st June 2016, the users will successfully build connection with Hadoop via T-SQL program. This integration will prove to be of great importance to the developers, as they will no longer need to purchase PolyBase separately. Whilst previously, the data storage was not done on the server and required external sources, now it will imply that the data will be actually stored on the server.

Perks Of All New SQL Server 2016

As always, all the new versions of SQL Server are adorned with a ton of features and so is SQL Server 2016. Here we will explore only a few enhancements with which all new SQL Server 2016 is being leveraged and which the users can implement from 1st June 2016 are:

1. Always Encrypted

The Always Encrypted feature ensures the encryption of entire SQL Server data at all times in SQL Server. The database encryption can only be done by the applications, which call SQL Server and have the encryption key. Therefore, the database possessing the encryption key will be the only one having complete access to the encrypted data. In order to safeguard the database from illicit activities, this encryption key is never passed on to the SQL Server. Thus, your data will be stored on the database managed via cloud and will be kept safe from the prying eyes of the unintentional users. Thus, this will be one of the most advanced option, which the users will get after upgrading to SQL Server 2016.

2. Support To JSON

With SQL Server 2016, users will get the provision to interchange JSON or Java Script Object Notation data among various applications and the database engine of SQL Server. This functionality will enable SQL Server to parse the data formatted by JSON, therefore making it suitable for storing in relational format. Moreover, the users will also be able to convert relational data into JSON formatted data. This feature, therefore, will enable the applications in exchanging JSON data with SQL data.

3. Leverage Dynamic Data Masking

Dynamic Data Masking is yet another feature, designed to secure confidential data from the unintentional users. This feature enables the users to secure the database in such a way, that the intended users can view the entire data whereas the unintended user will just be able to view a part of that database.For example, the users can obscure some columns of a table from the users who are not supposed to view them. Therefore, the user possessing the tables, have the authority to obscure the required data from unauthorized users.

4. PolyBase Integration

PolyBase enables the users to query distributes sets of data. With the collaboration of PolyBase in SQL Server 2016, the users will be able to deploy Transact SQL statements for running queries in SQL Azure and Hadoop. This facilitates the user to attach relational data of SQL Server with the data belonging to SQL Azure or Hadoop. Thus, enabling the extraction of data from Hadoop, without getting to know its internals.Since most organizations spread their data across several locations, PolyBase will prove to be the solution for leveraging SQL Server technology for accessing the semi-structured data of the applications.

5. Query Store Feature

The all-new Query Store Feature will enable the users to examine the execution plans. In contrary to the previous versions in which this task was done by DMVs, SQL Server 2016 will make use of Query Stores.Along with the historical transactions, the Query Store will also save the related query statistics.

6. Stretch Database

The Stretch Database feature has been introduced in Exchange Server 2016 for the purpose of stretching the database storage. This feature stretches the database storage form the On-Premise to Azure database. The data that is frequently accessed by the users is stored in On-Premise database whereas the less accessed is stored on off-site database i.e. on Azure.This will enable the admins to archive their information on a cheaper storage media without making any changes in the actual application code, thus, maximizing the performance of On-Premise queries.

Conclusion

Keeping in mind the features with which the SQL Server 2016 is adorned it would not be wrong to say that it is going to be the new revolution in the market. While the people at Microsoft are busy giving final touches to SQL Server 2016, we can eagerly await for its arrival on June 1, 2016.