How to take advantage of the latest features of SQL Server 2022 Standard

SQL Server 2022 Standard is Microsoft's latest database system, offering a range of new and advanced features in performance, security, Azure-hybrid integration and data analytics. SQL Server 2022 Standard is suitable for small and medium-sized organisations to run their applications and support common development tools on-premises and in the cloud. In this article, we'll highlight the key new features of SQL Server 2022 Standard that will help you improve efficiency and innovation in database management.

Azure hybrid integration

SQL Server 2022 Standard is fully integrated with Azure SQL Managed Instance's new link feature, which allows you to easily link on-premise and cloud databases. This improves availability, scalability and disaster recovery. The link feature allows you to create replicas in Azure SQL Managed Instance that keep data in sync with on-premise SQL Server. The link function supports both one-way and two-way replication, so you can choose the most appropriate way to synchronize your data.

The SQL Server 2022 Standard also integrates with Azure Synapse Link and Microsoft Purview, which allow you to provide deeper insight, prediction and control of data at scale. With Azure Synapse Link, you can connect SQL Server directly to Azure Synapse Analytics, an analytics platform that enables you to quickly process and visualize data. And with Microsoft Purview, you can manage, secure and govern data in a unified way across Azure and beyond.

Security

SQL Server 2022 Standard is the most secure database in the last 10 years according to NIST. It includes new features such as Ledger, which allows you to book and audit your data, and Query Store hints, which help optimize query performance. Ledger is a feature that records changes to the database in a secure and retrievable way. Ledger uses blockchain technology to ensure data integrity and accountability. Query Store hints is a feature that allows you to specify the hints or statements you want to use for your query. Query Store hints help avoid unexpected changes or corruption of query plans.

The SQL Server 2022 Standard also enhances existing security features such as Always Encrypted with secure enclaves, which encrypts data at rest and in motion without losing query capabilities, and Microsoft Defender for SQL, which provides protection against malware and intrusion attempts.

Power

The SQL Server 2022 Standard includes a new generation of intelligent query processing features in the database engine that accelerate performance without code changes. Examples of these features include Advanced Vector Extension (AVX) 512 extension, which improves batch mode operations, and time-series database support, which helps handle time-dependent data. The AVX 512 extension allows you to process more data with a single instruction, increasing the speed and efficiency of queries. Time-series database support allows you to store and analyze data that changes over time, such as sensor, log or transaction data.

SQL Server 2022 Standard also increases database scalability and availability. The SQL Server 2022 Standard supports up to 48 TB of memory, 64 sockets and 2048 logical cores, ideal for high-performance computing tasks such as SQL Server. The SQL Server 2022 Standard also enhances Storage Replica, which now supports compression for data transfers between source and target servers. This reduces network utilization and improves data synchronization.

Summary

Sources:

• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-2022-comparison
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/editions-and-components-of-sql-server-2022?view=sql-server-ver16