A database backup does not carry the key that opens your encrypted data. Export both keys, restore one from its file, and see why the password matters.
SQL SERVER – Interview Questions and Answers – Guest Post by Rick Morelan – Day 27 of 31
A guest post by Rick Morelan, author of the Joes 2 Pros series, on the few interview questions that come up again and again and separate good answers from great.
Row-Level Security for Reports
Use SQL Server row-level security for reports with predicate functions and SESSION_CONTEXT, and test every identity boundary.
SQL SERVER – ‘Denali’ – A Simple Example of Contained Databases
What is new for security in SQL Server Denali? Contained databases keep their own settings, metadata and users, so moving them to a new server is easy.
Partition Stats Permissions: A SQL Server 2025 CU9 Counterpoint
A controlled SQL Server 2025 CU9 test separates partition metadata visibility from access to table rows. Compare the documented permission pair with observed grant behavior, and keep the build-specific result within its measured scope.
End of Support: What Actually Stops Working
End of Support does not shut down SQL Server, but it changes security updates, fixes, and help; plan an exit before risk grows.
Contained Database Users: Logins That Move With the Database
Use contained database users to move authentication with a database, inspect prerequisites, test connections, and review access ownership.