SSMS 2019 New Features and Enhancements : There are multiple tools available in market to manage and administrate SQL Server databases. Some of them are paid with various premium features and some are free with required features. Still, most of the SQL DBA and developers prefer SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) in-built tool to manage the SQL Server databases. SSMS 2019 is a versatile platform introduced by Microsoft to manage and interact with your SQL Server with new features and enhancements.
In this blog post, let’s take a look into the all new features and enhancements of SSMS 2019.
Big Data : Embrace the Power of PolyBase
One of the most significant additions in SSMS 2019 is the tight integration with PolyBase. This technology enables seamless data virtualization, allowing you to query data residing in external sources directly within your T-SQL queries. This eliminates the need for complex data movement or replication, simplifying data access and analysis.
Imagine a scenario where you have a massive data warehouse on Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS) and a transactional database on SQL Server. With PolyBase, you can write T-SQL queries that seamlessly join tables from both sources, providing a unified view of your data for comprehensive analysis. This streamlines the process of working with big data alongside your relational data, fostering data-driven insights.
Read More: Tips and Techniques for Optimal Database Performance
Scalability and Agility with Big Data Clusters
SSMS 2019 introduces support for managing Big Data Clusters. This exciting feature allows you to deploy and manage clusters containing SQL Server, Spark, and Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) containers running on Kubernetes. This creates a unified platform for processing and analyzing both structured and unstructured data at scale.
Think of a scenario where you have a large volume of sensor data from IoT devices. Traditionally, this data might require specialized tools for analysis. With Big Data Clusters, you can leverage the power of Spark within SSMS to analyze this data alongside your relational data, extracting valuable insights from diverse sources.
Enhanced Query Optimization
SSMS 2019 goes beyond simply providing a management interface; it actively assists in optimizing your queries. The Query Optimizer has received several enhancements that improve its ability to generate efficient execution plans. These include dynamic memory grants for rowstore tables, table variable deferred compilation, and batch mode on rowstores.
The net result? Faster query execution! These behind-the-scenes improvements ensure your queries leverage system resources optimally, leading to quicker data retrieval and improved overall performance. (SSMS 2019 New Features and Enhancements)
Streamlined Security Management with Always Encrypted
Data security is paramount, and SSMS 2019 introduces Always Encrypted with Secure Enclaves to bolster your data protection arsenal. This technology encrypts data both at rest and in-memory within the database server’s secure enclaves. This hardware-based protection adds an extra layer of security, making it even more challenging for unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Imagine a database containing financial records. With Always Encrypted with Secure Enclaves, even database administrators with access to the server cannot decrypt the data at rest. This ensures a higher level of data confidentiality, fostering trust and regulatory compliance.
Improved High Availability Features
SSMS 2019 strengthens its capabilities for managing high availability configurations. It now supports up to five synchronous replica pairs for Availability Groups, enhancing disaster recovery options. Additionally, it allows enabling high availability configurations for SQL Server running in containers, ensuring continuous operation and data accessibility even in virtualized environments.
These improvements provide greater flexibility and resilience for mission-critical databases. By supporting more synchronous replicas and containerized deployments, SSMS 2019 empowers you to design and manage highly available database solutions that cater to diverse deployment scenarios.
Read More: A Step-by-Step Guide: Adding a New Database to the Availability Group
A Plethora of Enhancements
Beyond the headline features, SSMS 2019 boasts a treasure trove of additional enhancements that refine the user experience and streamline database management tasks. Here are a few noteworthy additions:
- Persistent Memory (PMEM) Device Support: Leverage the blazing-fast performance of PMEM devices for improved data access speeds.
- Columnstore Index Enhancements: Gain finer-grained control over columnstore indexes with features like online rebuild and partition switching.
- Resumable Online Index Creation: Experience smoother online index creation with the ability to resume interrupted operations.
- SQL Data Discovery and Classification: Uncover hidden insights within your data through automated discovery and classification capabilities.
- Improved UTF-8 Support: Work seamlessly with global data sets with enhanced UTF-8 character encoding support. (SSMS 2019 New Features and Enhancements)
Upgrade Today and Unleash the Power!
As you can see, SSMS 2019 is a compelling upgrade for anyone working with SQL Server. With its focus on big data integration, intelligent query processing, robust security features, and improved high availability, this enhanced management studio empowers you to manage and analyze your data more effectively. Consider upgrading to SSMS 2019 today and experience the power it brings to your data endeavors!
Additional Tips:
- To further enhance your understanding of these features, explore the official Microsoft documentation for SSMS 2019:
- Consider attending online courses or workshops to gain hands-on experience with the new functionalities.
- Join online communities and forums to connect with other SQL Server professionals and share knowledge and best practices.
Conclusion
SSMS 2019 is a significant upgrade that empowers data professionals with a comprehensive set of tools for managing, analyzing, and securing their data. The integration with PolyBase and Big Data Clusters unlocks the potential of working with big data alongside relational databases. Enhanced query optimization, robust security features, and improved high availability functionalities further elevate the
experience. From streamlined development workflows to simplified administration tasks, SSMS 2019 empowers you to extract maximum value from your data.
FAQ: SSMS 2019 New Features and Enhancements
What is PolyBase and how does it benefit me?
PolyBase is a data virtualization technology that lets you query data residing in external sources directly within your T-SQL queries. This eliminates the need to move or replicate data, simplifying access and analysis of big data alongside your relational data in SQL Server.
How can I leverage Big Data Clusters in SSMS 2019?
Big Data Clusters allow you to deploy and manage clusters containing SQL Server, Spark, and HDFS containers. This creates a unified platform for processing and analyzing both structured and unstructured data at scale. You can analyze sensor data from IoT devices or other large, diverse datasets alongside your relational data for deeper insights.
Does SSMS 2019 improve security for my databases?
Yes, SSMS 2019 introduces Always Encrypted with Secure Enclaves. This technology encrypts data at rest and in-memory within the database server’s secure enclaves, adding an extra layer of protection for sensitive information. Even database administrators cannot decrypt the data at rest, enhancing data confidentiality.
