SQLBits 2024 Opening Keynote

Welcome to the world of SQL Copilots

Microsoft is building a new experience of an AI companions called Copilot that are transforming how people work, write code, and solve problems faster. In this session come learn the latest innovations in SQL Copilot technology including GitHub Copilots for developing code and assisting with the T-SQL language. In addition you will get the latest look at Copilot technology to assist you in using and managing SQL in Azure. We will have plenty of demos in this session so come in and get ready to learn the new world of AI companions with SQL.

Come see your SQL Perfmon in the cloud

Come learn the latest innovations for monitoring technologies for SQL Server and Azure SQL

The Microsoft Data Leadership Panel

TBD

SQL Server and Windows Server Better together on Azure

Join us to learn how you can reap more technical and business benefits by running Windows Server and SQL Server on Azure. In this session you will get a first look at Windows Server vNext and innovative technologies for SQL Server including new monitoring and AI experiences.

Debugging SQL Server

Have you ever thought about how Microsoft uses the Windows Debugger with SQL Server? In this session I'll show you some advanced scenarios and how we debug SQL Server using a combination of the debugger along with instrumentation in the engine and other tools. This is an extremely deep level session and not for the feint of heart. You will get the best out of this session if you already have a solid understanding of the SQL Server engine.

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

SQL Server 2022 and the Wheel of Power

Come learn about the latest major release of SQL Server and the "wheel of power" with capabilities across hybrid, built-in query intelligence, core database engine, data virtualization, and T-SQL. This is one of the most power-packed set of new capabilities in a SQL Server major version ever and this session is the one you will want to attend to learn about all of them.

SQL Server 2022 hidden gems

SQL Server 2022 has many new capabilities for the database engine across security, performance, and availability. In this demo-heavy session learn about new enhancements that you may not be familiar with that have real practical value. You will learn how these new features work and understand how they can solve real-world problems.

The Kingdom of AdventureWorks Calls for Aid

The Kingdom of Adventure works has been besieged by Monsters from the Cave of Despair – Can the able Party of Engineers save the Kingdom from the horrors of security attacks, degraded performance, stability and resiliency using the power of the Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform? Come to see how they battle the foe with data and analytics, and what the Campaign holds for our trustworthy band of heroes!

Platform Innovations with SQL Server 2022 + Intel

Get ready for a journey through the cutting-edge platform advancements in SQL Server 2022! In this must-attend session, our Microsoft and Intel subject matter experts will take you on a tour of the latest platform innovations, demonstrating the new capabilities and solutions that are driving the next generation of database administration. Discover how Intel technologies are powering the SQL Server experience and hear about the latest hardware advancements from Intel that are shaping the future of the platform space. We'll dive into the backup compression improvement enabled by SQL Server 2022 and Intel® QuickAssist Technology (QAT). You'll learn how this integration allows for offloading of compute overhead, reduction of CPU usage, improvement of backup completion times, and reduction of storage consumption. We will also discuss the latest Intel hardware and where we are going next with SQL Server and Intel technologies. We will also cover Intel AVX-512 (Advanced Vector Extensions 512-bit) technology designed to accelerate the performance certain computing tasks, allowing the processor to perform multiple operations in parallel. SQL Server 2022 can leverage AVX-512 instructions to improve the performance of certain query operations by offloading compute-intensive operations to the processor. By utilizing AVX-512, SQL Server can take advantage of the improved parallelism and faster performance offered by modern processors, providing customers with faster query execution times and improved overall performance by offloading some of the work from the CPU to the processor. Don't miss your chance to be at the forefront of the platform revolution and discover the latest advancements in SQL Server and Intel technologies!

Introducing SQL Server 2022

SQL Server 2022 is here! In this session, I’ll go over all the new capabilities in SQL Server 2022 including how to connect with Azure for disaster recovery, near real-time analytics, and security. I will show you innovations in the database engine for security, performance, and availability including SQL Server Ledger and Intelligent Query Processing.

How to Build Secure, Scalable, and Highly Available Applications with Azure SQL Database

This session will show you how to develop your code with .Net and C# using the latest Microsoft tools to launch quickly in the cloud while ensuring you meet the requirements of security, performance, and availability of your application. You will learn how to ensure your application is optimized with Azure SQL Database including Serverless and Hyperscale tiers, Azure Active Directory, retry and error handling, connection abstraction, automated indexing, and Intelligent Query Processing.

SQL Server 2022: The hybrid data platform

SQL Server has included capabilities to connect to the cloud for years. SQL Server 2022 moves hybrid to the next level with features to connect you to Azure for disaster recovery, near real-time analytics, and security. Come take a deep dive in this session for all the existing and new hybrid capabilities of SQL Server. See how to easily setup a managed disaster recovery site in the cloud with Azure SQL Managed Instance.

AMA with the Microsoft Engineering team hosted by Bob Ward

Come get your questions answered live on stage by members of the Microsoft engineering team. This will be a fun and interactive session hosted by Bob Ward. We will take questions live from the audience plus those who are connected virtually.

SQL Server 2019: The Modern Data Platform

SQL Server 2019 represents the next evolution of the leading database platform in the industry. In this session, we will cover the complete set of features and capabilities in SQL Server 2019.

Inside SQL Server on Kubernetes

In this session, we will dive deep into the Kubernetes platform and how SQL Server containers can be deployed, managed, and configured. This session assumes a fundamental knowledge of both SQL Server and containers.

SQL Server to Azure SQL: Performance and Availability

Translate your existing SQL Server performance and availability skills and apply them to Azure SQL.

Inside SQL Server 2019

Come learn all the new capabilities of SQL Server 2019 directly from the Microsoft engineering team. This session will provide the strategy behind SQL Server 2019 as well as a deep dive into all the new features and how they can help you modernize your data estate with SQL Server.

Inside SQL Server Containers

Containers are the new virtual machines. They present a new way to deploy, manage, and run SQL Server never possible before. This session will present an internal view of how Docker containers work, how SQL Server runs in them, and how they work in environments such as Kubernetes

Inside SQL Server 2019 Polybase

SQL Server 2019 expands on the Polybase feature from SQL Server 2019 by providing a robust data virtualization solution to reduce the need for ETL and data movement. Come learn how new data connectors work with sources like Oracle, MongoDB, CosmosDB, Terradata, and HDFS.

Experience SQL Server on Linux and Containers

SQL Server 2017 is all about choice. Choice for developers to run on Windows, Linux, or Containers. In this session we will show you the experience of running SQL Server on Linux and Containers including a behind the scenes of how we built it.

Experience SQL Server 2017: The Modern Database Platform

Looking to upgrade your SQL Server? This session will discuss all the new features and capabilities of SQL Server 2017 including SQL Server on Linux, Docker Containers, Graph Database, Python, Adaptive Query Processing, Automatic Tuning, and HADR.

Adaptive query processing in SQL databases

Come learn about the new adaptive query processor in SQL Server 2017 and Azure SQL Database. We will discuss how this feature works, how it can benefit your application and queries, and the future of intelligent query processing.

SQL Server 2016 It Just Runs Faster

Come take a deep dive and behind the scenes look at why SQL Server 2016 "Just Runs Faster" with little or no application changes.

Keep Your Environment Always On with SQL Server 2016

The Microsoft Tiger team will showcase the environments that help you keep your environment Always On

Deploying SQL Server with Microsoft Azure Virtual Machine

Many customers are looking toward Cloud technologies to reduce operational and capital expenditures. A popular choices today for SQL Server customers is to deploy in the Microsoft Azure Virtual Machine environment. Come to this session and learn how

Windows Azure SQL Database Troubleshooting

While knowledge of SQL Server troubleshooting still applies to the Windows Azure SQL Database service, there are new and different features, methods, and tools that are unique to cloud database computing. Come learn about these new techniques.

Navigating Microsoft Fabric - Choosing the Right Workload for Your Needs

A session to help you choose the right workload for your business needs and to understand current limitations.

Analytics at the speed of Direct Lake

Advanced dive into the exciting new storage mode for Semantic Models.

The Most Powerful Azure Service You’ve Never Heard Of

Join Patrick Leblanc from the Power BI CAT team, Josh Luedeman, and Bradley Ball from the Azure FastTrack PG as we talk about the most powerful Azure Service you’ve never heard of. If only you knew the name of the service. Come to this session, and you’ll never forget it!

The Path to Success with Power BI: Best Practices

Whether you are just getting started with Power BI, or have been around for a while, Adam and Patrick will walk you through the best practices that will get you going in the right direction with Power BI!

Power BI + Azure Synapse Analytics: Beginning your journey

Start your journey using Power BI and Azure Synapse Analytics. From the options available to how to leverage effectively, this will position you well to get the most out of your data.

Keeping your data fresh in Power BI

In this session you will learn how to keep you data up to date i Power BI.

Empowering every individual with Power BI

Data and insights are only valuable when you can collaborate and take action on them, and those insights need to meet the business where they spend their time. The Power BI team are going to do this through Teams and SharePoint, and in productivity apps like Office, and in this session we’ll outline the plans and roadmap for this.

Getting Intimate with the Power BI Desktop

During this all-demo session, we will dig deep into some of the most captivating, but less publicized features of the desktop.

Enable Hybrid Data access with the On-premises Data Gateway

Hybrid data landscapes are common and the on-premises data gateway enables connecting to your on-premises data sources from online services (like Power BI, PowerApps, Microsoft Flow and Logic Apps) without the need to move your data to the cloud. Come to this session to see the latest gateway features and best practices related to setup and configuration along with troubleshooting tips and tricks, investigate bottlenecks and resolve your common gateway errors.

Power BI Report Server: A Deep Dive

So, you think you know everything you need to know about the Power BI Report Server because you use traditional SQL Server Reporting Services. Well, don’t believe it!

Power BI: Adam and Patrick Unplugged

Microsoft's Patrick and Adam answer a lot of questions on Power BI, SSAS and other tech. Those questions result in videos on their YouTube channel. In this session they are going to show a few. Don’t miss out, there is a little something for everyone.

Navigating Microsoft Fabric - Choosing the Right Workload for Your Needs

A session to help you choose the right workload for your business needs and to understand current limitations.

The Path to Success with Power BI: Best Practices

Whether you are just getting started with Power BI, or have been around for a while, Adam and Patrick will walk you through the best practices that will get you going in the right direction with Power BI!

Power BI + Azure Synapse Analytics: Beginning your journey

Start your journey using Power BI and Azure Synapse Analytics. From the options available to how to leverage effectively, this will position you well to get the most out of your data.

Getting Intimate with the Power BI Desktop

During this all-demo session, we will dig deep into some of the most captivating, but less publicized features of the desktop.

Power BI Report Server: A Deep Dive

So, you think you know everything you need to know about the Power BI Report Server because you use traditional SQL Server Reporting Services. Well, don’t believe it!

Power BI: Adam and Patrick Unplugged

Microsoft's Patrick and Adam answer a lot of questions on Power BI, SSAS and other tech. Those questions result in videos on their YouTube channel. In this session they are going to show a few. Don’t miss out, there is a little something for everyone.

Using a gateway to leverage on-premises data in Power BI

I look at how you can take advantage of an on-premises gateway to make use of local data when creating reports and dashboards for Power BI. This will start with Power BI Desktop, and the choices you have for SQL Server and Analysis Services.

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.

Prepare for Fabric with Power BI Governance, Auditing and DR

With the introduction of Microsoft Fabric, taking control of your rapidly growing Power BI estate provides an ever-increasing challenge. In this session we’ll look at how we can monitor activity, structure Power BI and Fabric for better management, and increase transparency. This will cover native Power BI functionality, additional Microsoft tools, as well as Power BI Sentinel.

Power BI Composite and Hybrid Models

Take Power BI to the next level to support real-time and BIG data, and find out how hybrid and composite models can open up unlimited flexibility and scalability.

Power BI governance, disaster recovery and auditing

As your Power BI usage grows you need to think carefully about how to plan and manage your tenant so you don't lose control of it and end up in Power BI Hell. Including security, planning, auditing, advanced data lineage and more.

Power BI Calculation Groups

Level up your Power BI capability by using calculation groups to simplify time intelligence (WTD, MTD, etc) and more

Power BI Composite and Advanced Models

Take Power BI to the next level to support BIG data, as well as layering logic over the top of an existing cube or dataset for unlimited flexibility.

Machine Learning and Power BI

In this session we’ll look at what ML tools are available in the Power BI and Azure worlds, and how you go about using these in your Power BI reports

So what's this Machine Learning all about?

Machine Learning is a popular buzzword, but what does it actually look like, and how can we use it? This session will show a number of high level examples of using ML to do some useful and fun stuff, including training a model to play a game

An Introduction to Machine Learning

Learn how to build an Azure Machine Learning model, how to use, integrate and consume the model within other applications, and learn the basic principles and statistics concepts available in the different ML algorithms.

Using PowerBI and DAX to predict and win Fantasy F1

Using PowerQuery, PowerPivot, PowerView and DAX to model, analyse and win a Fantasy Formula 1 league. Guarantee yourself eternal glory as a braniac petrol head, and become a PowerBI and DAX pro in the process.

MDX 101

In this session we'll look at the structure and basics of MDX, the Multi Dimensional query eXpression language for querying Analysis Services OLAP cubes. We'll start at the beginning, so no previous experience necessary.

Data Modeling for Analysis Services Cubes

In this session we’ll look at a number of different data scenarios and explore ways of remodelling the data to optimise it for cubes and MDX. Sometimes a small ETL change can have a dramatic impact on the cube's functionality and simplicity.

Loading Data Warehouse Dimensions in SSIS

This session looks at some of the different methods available to load slowly changing dimension data into a data warehouse, and compares the relative performance given different data scenarios and traditional storage compared with FusionIO

Automating SSAS cube documentation using SSRS, DMV and Spatial Data

This session will show how to use DMVs (data management views) to query the OLAP cube structure, and then use SSRS to create a set of interactive reports including the BUS matrix, and using spatial data to generate automated star schemas.

PowerPivot and QlikView 101

How to get started with PowerPivot and QlikView. Covering how to combine data sources, common pitfalls, adding some calculation logic and building a basic dashboard. We’ll walk through the same example on both systems and compare the results.

Generative AI: Concepts, Tools, and Applications for Data Professionals

In this session, you will learn how generative AI works, its limitations, the main tools and processes you can use, and where you can use it to enhance your data estate and data projects.

Should I become a manager in IT

In this session we'll cover the decision points in your career that you need to understand for becoming a manager, the traits you should have, the training you need to be successful, and the ways you can help your employees and organization thrive.

Should I become a manager in IT

In this session we'll cover the decision points in your career that you need to understand for becoming a manager, the traits you should have, the training you need to be successful, and the ways you can help your employees and organization thrive.

Arc, Arc and Arc: De-mystifying Azure Arc for Data

Get the latest Azure innovations, elastic scale, and unified management for data workloads with or without a direct cloud connection.

The Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform

In this session, you'll learn about each of the components in IDP and how to leverage this platform and gain intelligence across all of your data - on-prem, in devices, and in any cloud environment.

The Kingdom of AdventureWorks Calls for Aid

The Kingdom of Adventure works has been besieged by Monsters from the Cave of Despair – Can the able Party of Engineers save the Kingdom from the horrors of security attacks, degraded performance, stability and resiliency using the power of the Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform? Come to see how they battle the foe with data and analytics, and what the Campaign holds for our trustworthy band of heroes!

Building AI ready applications

In this session, we’ll explore the development of AI-ready applications using Azure SQL DB, open-source platforms and Azure AI services. We’ll cover the principles of modern application design, delve into the vector capabilities that enhance application performance, and demonstrate how to interact with your data conversationally. This session is a must for those looking to leverage Azure for building intelligent, data-driven applications.

The Microsoft Data Leadership Panel

TBD

Accelerate your Oracle & Mainframe Modernization journey to Azure SQL

Come join this session if you are helping Oracle, Mainframe/AS400 workloads move to SQL and Azure. You will understand our product strategy, reusable solutions, and get to know real world customer case studies who have done this on Azure/SQL for their mission critical workloads.

The Microsoft Data Leadership Panel

TBD