Microsoft has just added support for query hints to Azure SQL Database, giving database administrators a powerful tool to manage the performance of ISV application code. Here's how it works.

Storing data in the cloud is convenient, but how secure is it? And what are users’ options for stepping up their data security?

There is an exception: If data has evidentiary value, it must be stored according to policy as soon as practicable. So, if it’s part of a criminal case, those files will be stored as evidence.

PRINT 'SQL Server Data Path: '+ @data_dir The code above calls the extended stored procedure explicitly (referring to the master database) based on the assumption that you'll be using the return ...