Azure SQL Database Features

Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) Enhancements

Automatic Plan Correction

Azure SQL Database continuously monitors query performance. When it detects a plan degradation, it automatically reverts to a previously known good plan, minimizing performance impact without manual intervention.

• Automatic identification of regressions.
• Reversion to historically performing plans.
• Minimal user configuration required.

For more details, see Automatic Plan Correction Documentation.

Serverless Compute for Azure SQL Database

The serverless compute tier offers automatic scaling of compute based on workload demand and pauses compute when there are no active workloads. This provides granular billing for compute used per second and automatically saves costs during inactive periods.

• Automatic scaling of compute resources.
• Automatic pausing and resuming of the database.
• Cost-effective for unpredictable or infrequent workloads.

Key Benefits:

• Pay-per-second billing for compute.
• Reduced costs for idle periods.
• Simplified management for varying workloads.

Learn more about Serverless Compute Tiers.

Azure SQL Database Hyperscale

Hyperscale is a unique storage and compute architecture for Azure SQL Database that provides massively scalable database storage up to 100 TB. It offers fast, independent scaling of compute and storage, rapid backups, and fast restores.

Highlights:

• Up to 100 TB of database size.
• Rapid backups and restores.
• Fast, independent scaling of compute and storage.
• High availability with read-scale replicas.

Explore the Hyperscale Architecture.

Always Encrypted with Secure Enclaves

Always Encrypted with secure enclaves enhances security by allowing sensitive data to be encrypted at rest and in transit, with decryption operations performed within a hardware-based secure enclave. This protects encryption keys and sensitive data from privileged database users.

Secure Enclave Capabilities:

• Confidential computing for data.
• Protection of encryption keys.
• Secure processing of sensitive data.

-- Example: Encrypting data with Always Encrypted
SELECT *
FROM YourTable
WHERE SensitiveColumn = ENCRYPTBYPASSPHRASE('SensitiveData', 'YourColumnMasterKey');

Read about Always Encrypted Secure Enclaves.

New Transact-SQL (T-SQL) Functions and Syntax

Microsoft continuously introduces new T-SQL functions and syntax improvements to enhance developer productivity and query capabilities.

Recent Additions:

• JSON_OBJECT and JSON_ARRAY for advanced JSON manipulation.
• Window functions like LAG() and LEAD() for advanced analytical queries.
• DATETIME2FROMPARTS() for precise date and time construction.

Refer to the T-SQL Function Reference for comprehensive details.