'Data Migration Assistant (DMA) enables you to upgrade to a modern data platform by detecting compatibility issues that can impact database functionality on your new version of SQL Server. It recommends performance and reliability improvements for your target environment. It allows you to not only move your schema and data, but also uncontained objects from your source server to your target server.
DMA replaces all previous versions of SQL Server Upgrade Advisor and should be used for upgrades for most SQL Server versions (see below for supported versions).'
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/datamigration/dma/
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=53595
'As more and more businesses go digital and towards the cloud, security is more important than ever. We’re not all security experts, but with the responsibility we assume as businesses to be entrusted with protecting our customer’s data, it’s essential that we understand the basics of how we secure data. Security only works when you identify the following:
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What you’d like to protect
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Who you’d like to protect it from
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What vulnerabilities remain
Data encryption in the SQL Platform is no different. This post helps to clarify the attack surface area that Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) protects, and answers some frequently asked questions.'...
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlsecurity/2016/10/05/feature-spotlight-transparent-data-encryption-tde/
'Azure SQL Database Threat Detection has been in preview for a few months now. We’ve on-boarded many customers and received some great feedback. We would like to share a couple of customer experiences that demonstrate how SQL Threat Detection helped to address their concerns about potential threats to their database.
What is SQL Threat Detection?
SQL Threat Detection is a new security intelligence feature built into the Azure SQL Database service. Working around the clock to learn, profile and detect anomalous database activities, SQL Threat Detection identifies potential threats to the database. Security officers or other designated administrators can get an immediate notification about suspicious database activities as they occur. Each notification provides details of the suspicious activity and recommends how to further investigate and mitigate the threat.
Currently, SQL Threat Detection on Azure SQL Database detects potential vulnerabilities and SQL injection attacks, as well as anomalous database access patterns. The following customer feedback attests to how SQL Threat Detection warned them about these threats as they occurred and helped them improve their database security.
'...
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlsecurity/2016/08/08/sql-threat-detection-your-built-in-security-expert/
'Today, we are pleased to announce the latest generally-available (GA) quality release of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 16.5. This update features fixes for high DPI, reconnection and many issues! Check out the list of fixes below.
Get it here:
Download SSMS 16.5 release
New in this release
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Fixed an issue where a crash could occur when a database with table name containing “;:” was clicked on.
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Fixed an issue where changes made to the Model page in AS Tabular Database Properties window would script out the original definition. Microsoft Connect Item: 3080744
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Fixed the issue that temporary files are added to the “Recent Files” list.
Microsoft Connect Item: 2558789
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Fixed the issue that “Manage Compression” menu item is disabled for the user table nodes in object explorer tree. Microsoft Connect Item: 3104616
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Fixed the issue that user is not able to set the font size for object explorer, registered server explorer, template explorer as well as object explorer details. Font for the explorers will be using the Environment font. Microsoft Connect Item: 691432
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Fixed the issue that SSMS always reconnect to the default database when connection is lost. Microsoft Connect Item: 3102337
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Fixed many of high dpi issues in policy management and query editor window including the execution plan icons.
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Fixed the issue that option to config font and color for Extended Event is missing.
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Fixed the issue of SSMS crashes that occur when closing the application or when it is trying to show the error dialog.
Please visit the SSMS download page for additional details, and to see the full changelog.
Known Issues
The full list of known issues is available in Release notes available here.'...
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sqlreleaseservices/announcing-sql-server-management-studio-16-5-release/
'The SQL Server Data Tools team is pleased to announce an update for SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) is now available. The SSDT 16.5 release adds a number of improvements to the connection experience, SqlPackage and DacFx API support for generating a deployment report and scripts during publish, and as usual a number of bug fixes across the tool.
Get it here:
Download SSDT GA 16.5 for Visual Studio 2015 and Visual Studio 2013
This release will be available through Visual Studio Extensions and Updates notification soon.
Download Data-Tier Application Framework 16.5
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The version number is 13.0.3485.1
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You can also install as a nuget package, e.g. for use in Powershell or your own app integration scenarios:
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ssdt/2016/10/20/sql-server-data-tools-16-5-release/
