22-25 April 2026
SQLBits 2020

Why You Need Query Store

If you have heard about Query Store but don't know what it can offer, or why you really need it, this session will answer those questions and demonstrate the value of this feature that continues to evolve.

Whether you run SQL Server in house, in the cloud on a VM, or use Azure SQL Database, Query Store is a tool you can leverage for troubleshooting and monitoring, as well as stabilizing query performance.  This session will show you why Query Store is essential, whether you have prior experience with query tuning or not.  We'll use demos based on problems encountered in production environments over the last three years to provide an understanding of what this feature has to offer, and why you want to start using it.

3:19 Setting the stage for troubleshooting query performance in SQL Server
5:25 Demo of how to use Query Store to find problems
23:57 Fundamentals of Query Store
30:35 Traditional options for fixing bad queries
34:56 Demo of plan forcing (manual and automatic plan correction)
49:08 How to use Query Store for testing changes
50:34 Recommendations for using Query Store
52:05 Ad-hoc vs. parameterized workloads and Query Store
54:27 Summary and takeaways

Speakers

Erin Stellato

Erin Stellato's previous sessions

Stabilizing Performance with Query Store
This session will demonstrate how to use plan forcing (manual and automatic) and Query Store Hints to stabilize query performance without changing code.
 
What You've Been Missing in SSMS
Get tips and tricks and a sneak peak at the future for SSMS.
 
Parameter Sensitive Plan Optimization in SQL 2022 ... As Cool as it Sounds?
We'll provide a balance perspective of the benefits and limitations of the new Parameter Sensitive Plan Optimization feature in SQL 2022 to help you decide if it's right for your environment.
 
Query Store Best Practices
Want to use Query Store and not sure how to make sure everything is "correct"? Tried Query Store and had issues? In this session we'll cover what you MUST know to successfully use Query Store in a production environment.
 
The SQL Leadership Panel
Bring all your questions about the strategy and future of Microsoft SQL to the leadership team of Microsoft in a panel hosted by Bob Ward, Principal Architect at Microsoft
 
From Your Couch to the Cloud: When and Why to Choose the Azure Portal
In this session you'll learn how to get the most out of the Azure Portal  and how to maximize its unique capabilities for Azure SQL administration.
 
Azure Data Studio and the Surprises Inside
If you're not sure whether you're leverating Azure Data Studio to it's full capability, then attend to this session to discover the bits you might be missing.
 
Erin & Monica’s Favorite SQL Stuff
Two consultants, two different companies, two data professionals passionate about performance tuning. Do we like the same things? Do we have the same approach to problems? Topics will include: Trace Flags, DMVs, DBCC commands, Community Scripts and Intelligent Query Processing Features. We will talk about the features and solutions we agree on, and discuss where we disagree.
 
Options for Proactively Managing Statistics in SQL Server
I often recommend that folks proactively manage statistics, but I always seem to run out of time to talk about HOW to do that...this session will cover exactly that.
 
Why You Need Query Store
I can spend an entire day talking about Query Store and all it can do, but in 20 minutes I can convince you that it should be a feature you start using today.
 
Stop Tuning Queries and Start Tuning Your Workload
This session will discuss how to look at your workload holistically using a variety of methods, so that you can target and address patterns in your code and query plans, rather than troubleshooting one query at a time.
 
Why You Need Query Store
If you have heard about Query Store but don't know what it can offer, or why you really need it, this session will answer those questions and demonstrate the value of this feature that continues to evolve.
 
Plan Stability with Automatic Tuning in SQL Server and Azure
Automatic Plan Correction is a feature you can use whether you're a pro at performance tuning or just starting with SQL Server. Come to this session to learn how to spend less time fighting fires with this new feature.
 
Extending your use of Extended Events
If you've been using Extended Events the same way you used to use Trace, you might be wondering if there's more to it. There is! In this session we will explore what else you can do with XE besides capture long-running queries.
 
Kicking & Screaming: Replacing Profiler with Extended Events
Extended Events was released with SQL Server 2008, and almost 10 years later, many data professionals are still clinging to Profiler. It's time to move forward, and in this session I'll show you how.