SQL Server Administration and Maintenance

The management and maintenance of SQL Server have witnessed significant advancements between 2015 and 2024, driven mainly by the growing complexity of database environments combined with the growing demands for systems that are highly available, secure, and high-performing. Throughout this period, several groundbreaking features were added, with the objective of making databases more scalable, efficient, secure, and manageable. Some of the major breakthroughs include advanced performance optimization techniques, automated software for regular maintenance tasks, and advanced security features such as Always Encrypted and Row-Level Security. Moreover, with the growing use of cloud computing, SQL Server has evolved towards hybrid environments, thus enabling greater flexibility and scalability through offerings such as Azure SQL Database and Azure Arc for hybrid deployments. Despite these advances, there are substantial research gaps, particularly in predictive maintenance, AI-optimized optimization, and the challenges of managing SQL Server environments in fast-evolving, containerized, and microservices-based environments. Additionally, as SQL Server evolves further, the need for seamless integration with future technologies like machine learning and big data analytics requires further research, particularly in PolyBase and SQL Server Machine Learning Services.