36 updates from Microsoft Azure.
Always Encrypted with Intel SGX enclaves in Azure SQL Database will retire on October 31, 2027 as support for SGX-enabled DC-series hardware is phased out. Customers should transition to…
In SSMS, you can now use Microsoft.Build.Sql projects to help you implement, manage, and collaborate on database changes, by providing a local definition of the database objects. A SQL database…
Microsoft SQL Agent Skills help you get more accurate, product-specific guidance when using AI agents to build, operate, and migrate SQL workloads. You can use these skills with Azure SQL Database,…
You can now select Azure SQL Database, including Hyperscale, as a migration target directly from the database migration experience in Azure Arc. The workflow brings Azure Database Migration Service…
Auto-pause and auto-resume are now available in public preview for Azure SQL Hyperscale databases using the Serverless compute tier. You can configure databases to automatically pause during periods…
The following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL: Scale larger workloads on Azure SQL Database Hyperscale Premium series with new 160-vCore and 192-vCore options, delivering up to 50%…
You can now format SQL scripts directly in Visual Studio Code using SQL Formatter for more consistent, readable code. Customizable formatting options help you match your preferred coding style, so…
The public preview of Microsoft-managed performance monitoring for Azure SQL Database is now available. You can now monitor Azure SQL Database without building custom collection scripts or…
Azure SQL Dev Hub gives you a central starting point for building applications with Azure SQL, whether you’re developing directly or using AI agents. You can find guidance for connecting to Azure SQL…
Vector search and vector indexes are now generally available in Azure SQL Database. Using the CREATE VECTOR INDEX and VECTOR_SEARCH T-SQL capabilities, you can perform efficient approximate nearest…
In mid-September 2026, the following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL:Configure soft delete for the Azure SQL logical server. When the logical server is deleted, it goes into a soft…
With SQL Formatter, you can format SQL scripts directly in your editor for cleaner, more consistent, and readable code. Now in public preview, it includes more customizable formatting options to…
With Azure SQL Database provisioning, you can create and connect to a fully managed cloud database directly from your editor—at no cost. Now generally available, the feature also includes…
In mid-August 2026, the following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL: You can customize keyboard shortcuts for Quick Queries, the Results Grid, and the Query Editor directly within…
In late-July 2026, the following update and enhancement was made to Azure SQL: Regex-based dynamic data masking (DDM) extends the built-in DDM feature with pattern‑based masking to hide sensitive…
In mid-July 2026, the following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL: Shortcut Configuration lets you customize keyboard shortcuts for Quick Queries, the Results Grid, and the Query Editor…
SQL MCP Server is now generally available, giving customers a secure, high-performance way to build agentic solutions with controlled access to production data. Built for SQL and compatible with…
Microsoft Entra server principals (logins) for Azure SQL Database is now generally available. You can now use CREATE LOGIN ... FROM EXTERNAL PROVIDER in the virtual master database, bringing parity…
The MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code now introduces Azure SQL Database provisioning in public preview, starting with the free tier so you can create and connect to a fully managed cloud…
In early June 2026, the following update and enhancement was made to Azure SQL: Now you can use AES 256 symmetric keys to configure transparent data encryption (TDE) with customer-managed keys in…
The MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code now offers data API builder with built-in GitHub Copilot integration as generally available, bringing guided back-end generation into your development…
The GitHub Copilot integration with Schema Designer is now generally available in the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code, expanding the visual schema design experience with AI-assisted…
In June 2026, the following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL: Execute SQL queries, document with Markdown, and mix kernels like Python using SQL Notebooks in the MSSQL extension for…
In late-March 2026, the following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL: Configure built-in SQL code analysis rules and severity settings without editing project XML. Use Fabric…
Starting March 31, 2027 Elastic query using Shard_Map_Manager external data source type reaches end of support.Existing workloads can continue to run using Azure SQL Elastic query - Shard_Map_Manager…
The MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code now introduces GitHub Copilot integration in Schema Designer, expanding the visual schema design experience with AI-assisted capabilities. Based on…
The MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code now introduces Data API builder in public preview with built-in GitHub Copilot integration, bringing a guided back-end generation experience directly into…
Azure SQL Database now supports versionless keys for transparent data encryption (TDE), giving you a simpler and more reliable way to manage your own encryption keys. You no longer need to reference…
Bring the benefits of schema-as-code to your database development workflow. SQL database projects enable you to source control your database schema, perform reliable deployments to any environment,…
Announcing SQL MCP Server, our Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector for production databases. SQL MCP Server is a feature rich component of data API builder (DAB) that gives you a simple,…
In mid-March 2026, the following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL: Publish SQL database projects directly from Visual Studio Code to streamline database deployment workflows. View and…
The MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code now introduces Query Profiler in public preview, bringing real-time insight into your database activity directly inside Visual Studio Code. With Query…
In late-February 2026, the following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL: Introducing Search Database Objects in the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code. Instantly find tables, views,…
In late-February 2026, the following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL: Manage your databases directly from the dialog using actions such as Name, Rename, and Drop. Import a flat file…
In mid-February 2026, the following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL:Simplify SQL deployments from Visual Studio Code using the new SQL Projects Publish dialog.Connections Migration…
In mid-December 2025, the following updates and enhancements were made to Azure SQL: Identify causes that auto-resume serverless workloads using Activity Log in Azure SQL Database to troubleshoot and…