Microsoft SQL Server 2016

Description

Microsoft SQL Server 2016 is a comprehensive relational database management system (RDBMS) designed to handle a wide range of data management and business intelligence needs. It introduces numerous features and enhancements to improve performance, security, scalability, and analytics capabilities. Here are some key aspects and features of SQL Server 2016:

Key Features:

1. Always Encrypted:
   • Protects sensitive data by encrypting it both at rest and in transit.
   • Ensures that only authorized applications and users can access the encrypted data.
2. Enhanced In-Memory OLTP:
   • Improved in-memory performance for transaction processing.
   • Simplified migration of disk-based tables to memory-optimized tables.
3. Real-Time Operational Analytics:
   • Combines in-memory OLTP and columnstore indexes to enable real-time analytics on transactional data.
   • Provides fast insights without impacting transaction performance.
4. Stretch Database:
   • Seamlessly extends on-premises databases to Microsoft Azure.
   • Keeps frequently accessed data on-premises while moving infrequently accessed data to the cloud.
5. PolyBase:
   • Enables querying of data stored in Hadoop or Azure Blob Storage using T-SQL.
   • Simplifies data integration across different data sources.
6. Advanced Analytics:
   • Integration with R services to run advanced analytics directly within the database.
   • Supports in-database analytics for better performance and security.
7. Row-Level Security:
   • Implements fine-grained access control by restricting access to specific rows in a database table.
   • Enhances data security and compliance.
8. Dynamic Data Masking:
   • Limits the exposure of sensitive data by masking it to non-privileged users.
   • Simplifies the process of obfuscating data for certain user roles.
9. Temporal Tables:
   • Automatically tracks historical data changes for time-based analysis.
   • Simplifies data auditing and versioning.
10. Query Store:
    • Monitors query performance and provides insights into query execution plans.
    • Helps identify and troubleshoot performance issues.
11. Enhanced BI and Reporting:
    • Power BI integration for advanced data visualization and analytics.
    • Improvements in SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) for mobile and paginated reports.

Benefits:

• Enhanced Security: Features like Always Encrypted, Row-Level Security, and Dynamic Data Masking ensure robust data protection.
• Improved Performance: In-memory OLTP, real-time operational analytics, and Query Store enhance performance for both transactional and analytical workloads.
• Scalability: Stretch Database and PolyBase provide flexible and scalable data storage and querying options.
• Advanced Analytics: Integration with R services and advanced analytics capabilities enable deeper insights and data-driven decision-making.
• Simplified Management: Tools and features like Query Store and temporal tables simplify database management and troubleshooting.

Use Cases:

• Enterprise Applications: Suitable for applications requiring high performance, robust security, and real-time analytics.
• Data Warehousing: Ideal for large-scale data warehousing with advanced querying and data integration capabilities.
• Business Intelligence: Provides powerful tools for data analysis, reporting, and visualization.

End of Support:

• Mainstream Support: Ended on July 13, 2021.
• Extended Support: Ends on July 14, 2026. Users should plan for future upgrades to newer versions to continue receiving support and updates.