What Is MS SQL Server?
MS SQL Server stands for Microsoft Structured Query Language Server, which has been a popular and well-established system for DBMS (Database Management System) for many years. It’s popular as it seamlessly adapts to modern technological tendencies.
Microsoft’s SQL Server has been developed in several versions with different characteristics and functions for specific purposes. The article will focus on the new, upgraded, and important releases of MS SQL Server and review their notable changes.
Understanding MS SQL Server Versions
It is a type of RDBMS (relational database management system) that was developed by Microsoft, commonly known as SQL Server. It provides a secure and sound foundation to organize, store, and access data in a systematic manner.
The versions of SQL Server are generally considered from the point of view of changes and optimization, adding new features, or modifying the existing ones, among many others.
Top MS SQL Server Releases
Here are the most recent MS SQL Server releases:
– SQL Server 2022
As of now, we have the latest release of SQL Server 2022, which is targeting hybrid and cloud environments. Some new inclusions were Always Encrypted with column-level encryption, a query store to track performance, and more support for JSON data.
– SQL Server 2019
This version then built on the advances in machine learning and provided new features, such as graph databases and spatial data types, when it was released. Several other optimizations have been made in scalability for works and operations related to analytical data warehousing.
– SQL Server 2017
SQL Server 2017 has given more attention to containerization and machine learning. It added the capability to run Linux as well as Windows containers, with a choice of where to deploy the application. Also, it incorporated machine learning, allowing data scientists to develop and deploy prescriptive analytics models within SQL Server.
– SQL Server 2016
This version includes many enhancements in the cloud, especially the Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Data Warehouse. It also came with features such as Polybase for querying big data outside of SQL Server and database auditing for security extensions.
– SQL Server 2014
SQL Server 2014 enhanced the previous inclusive performance and added the support of in-memory OLTP (online transaction processing) for quick transactions. It also offered extended functionality for data analysis with big data and included new definitions for data storage and reporting.
– SQL Server 2012
There are new features in SQL Server 2012 that improve performance, scalability, and security. It added capabilities, including AlwaysOn availability groups for continuity and numerous new features for high availability, disaster recovery, enhanced support, column store indexes, large volume analytics, and Hadoop integrations.
Optimal MS SQL Server Considerations
| Version Name | Latest Service Pack | Latest GDR | Latest Cumulative Update |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQL Server 2012 | SP4 | GDR 10 | CU27 |
| SQL Server 2014 | SP3 | GDR 10 | CU29 |
| SQL Server 2016 | SP3 | GDR 10 | CU29 |
| SQL Server 2017 | CU29 | CU29 | CU29 |
| SQL Server 2019 | CU29 | CU29 | CU29 |
| SQL Server 2022 | CU2 | CU2 | CU2 |
To maintain optimal performance, security, and compatibility of all your applications with MS SQL servers, users must stay updated with the latest service packs, GDRs, and cumulative updates.
– Latest Service Pack
The Latest Service Pack describes the major update to SQL Server. It includes all the bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features.
– Latest GDR
A General Distribution Release (GDR) is a minor update about security and critical bug fixes.
– Latest Cumulative Update
The Latest Cumulative Update is a collection of all previously released updates, including service packs, GDRs, and hotfixes, of the SQL Server version.
Here are some of the most requested resources for your help:
- Learn how to restore the MS SQL Server database backup file and get your database back up and running.
- Protect your database security by changing a password for SQL Server 2019 using SSMS.
- Learn to enable SA User for SQL Server 2019 using SSMS to grant necessary permissions for administrative tasks.
New Feature Enhancement Of The Latest SQL Server Version
| SQL Server Version | Key Features |
| SQL Server 2012 | AlwaysOn availability groups, columnstore indexes, Hadoop integration |
| SQL Server 2014 | In-memory OLTP, enhanced big data analytics |
| SQL Server 2016 | Cloud integration, Polybase, database auditing |
| SQL Server 2017 | Containerization, machine learning |
| SQL Server 2019 | Graph databases, spatial data types, improved performance |
| SQL Server 2022 | Hybrid and cloud-native capabilities, Always Encrypted, query store |
With adjustments to business needs, several versions of MS SQL Server have been introduced, and it has been providing a number of features, functionalities, and capabilities useful for business.
Each version brings new innovations, from performance upgrades to cloud integration. The above key versions, their roles, and insightful data about the updated versions will guide you to choose the optimal SQL server for all your present and future needs.
