MCSE Data Mgmt & Analytics (MCSA SQL 2016 Admin + MCSA SQL 2016 Developer) – 11 Days

Introduction to T-SQL Querying

This module describes the elements of T-SQL and their role in writing queries. Describe the use of sets in SQL Server. Describe the use of predicate logic in SQL Server. Describe the logical order of operations in SELECT statements.

Lessons

• Introducing T-SQL
• Understanding Sets
• Understanding Predicate Logic
• Understanding the Logical Order of Operations in SELECT statements

Lab : Introduction to T-SQL Querying

• Executing Basic SELECT Statements
• Executing Queries that Filter Data using Predicates
• Executing Queries That Sort Data Using ORDER BY

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the role of T-SQL in writing SELECT statements.
• Describe the elements of the T-SQL language and which elements will be useful in writing queries.
• Describe the concepts of the set theory, one of the mathematical underpinnings of relational databases, and to help you apply it to how you think about querying SQL Server
• Describe predicate logic and examine its application to querying SQL Server.
• Explain the elements of a SELECT statement, delineate the order in which the elements are evaluated, and then apply this understanding to a practical approach to writing queries.

Writing SELECT Queries

This module introduces the fundamentals of the SELECT statement, focusing on queries against a single table.

Lessons

• Writing Simple SELECT Statements
• Eliminating Duplicates with DISTINCT
• Using Column and Table Aliases
• Writing Simple CASE Expressions

Lab : Writing Basic SELECT Statements

• Writing Simple SELECT Statements
• Eliminating Duplicates Using DISTINCT
• Using Column and Table Aliases
• Using a Simple CASE Expression

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the structure and format of the SELECT statement, as well as enhancements that will add functionality and readability to your queries
• Describe how to eliminate duplicates using the DISTINCT clause
• Describe the use of column and table aliases
• Understand and use CASE expressions

Querying Multiple Tables

This module describes how to write queries that combine data from multiple sources in Microsoft SQL Server.

Lessons

• Understanding Joins
• Querying with Inner Joins
• Querying with Outer Joins
• Querying with Cross Joins and Self Joins

Lab : Querying Multiple Tables

• Writing Queries that use Inner Joins
• Writing Queries that use Multiple-Table Inner Joins
• Writing Queries that use Self-Joins
• Writing Queries that use Outer Joins
• Writing Queries that use Cross Joins

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain the fundamentals of joins in SQL Server
• Write inner join queries
• Write queries that use outer joins
• Use additional join types

Sorting and Filtering Data

This module describes how to implement sorting and filtering.

Lessons

• Sorting Data
• Filtering Data with Predicates
• Filtering Data with TOP and OFFSET-FETCH
• Working with Unknown Values

Lab : Sorting and Filtering Data

• Writing Queries that Filter Data using a WHERE Clause
• Writing Queries that Sort Data Using an ORDER BY Clause
• Writing Queries that Filter Data Using the TOP Option
• Write Queries that filter data using the OFFSET-FETCH clause

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain how to add an ORDER BY clause to your queries to control the order of rows displayed in your query’s output
• Explain how to construct WHERE clauses to filter out rows that do not match the predicate.
• Explain how to limit ranges of rows in the SELECT clause using a TOP option.
• Explain how to limit ranges of rows using the OFFSET-FETCH option of an ORDER BY clause.
• Explain how three-valued logic accounts for unknown and missing values, how SQL Server uses NULL to mark missing values, and how to test for NULL in your queries.

Working with SQL Server Data Types

This module introduces the data types SQL Server uses to store data.

Lessons

• Introducing SQL Server Data Types
• Working with Character Data
• Working with Date and Time Data

Lab : Working with SQL Server Data Types

• Writing Queries that Return Date and Time Data
• Writing Queries that use Date and Time Functions
• Writing Queries That Return Character Data
• Writing Queries That Return Character Functions

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explore many of the data types SQL Server uses to store data and how data types are converted between types
• Explain the SQL Server character-based data types, how character comparisons work, and some common functions you may find useful in your queries
• Describe data types that are used to store temporal data, how to enter dates and times so they will be properly parsed by SQL Server, and how to manipulate dates and times with built-in functions.

Using DML to Modify Data

This module describes how to create DML queries, and why you would want to.

Lessons

• Adding Data to Tables
• Modifying and Removing Data
• Generating automatic column values

Lab : Using DML to Modify Data

• Inserting Records with DML
• Updating and Deleting Records Using DML

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Use INSERT and SELECT INTO statements
• Use UPDATE, MERGE, DELETE, and TRUNCATE.

Using Built-In Functions

This module introduces some of the many built in functions in SQL Server.

Lessons

• Writing Queries with Built-In Functions
• Using Conversion Functions
• Using Logical Functions
• Using Functions to Work with NULL

Lab : Using Built-In Functions

• Writing Queries That Use Conversion Functions
• Writing Queries that use Logical Functions
• Writing Queries that Test for Nullability

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the types of functions provided by SQL Server, and then focus on working with scalar functions
• Explain how to explicitly convert data between types using several SQL Server functions
• Describe how to use logical functions that evaluate an expression and return a scalar result.
• Describe additional functions for working with NULL

Grouping and Aggregating Data

This module describes how to use aggregate functions.

Lessons

• Using Aggregate Functions
• Using the GROUP BY Clause
• Filtering Groups with HAVING

Lab : Grouping and Aggregating Data

• Writing Queries That Use the GROUP BY Clause
• Writing Queries that Use Aggregate Functions
• Writing Queries that Use Distinct Aggregate Functions
• Writing Queries that Filter Groups with the HAVING Clause

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the built-in aggregate function in SQL Server and write queries using it.
• Write queries that separate rows using the GROUP BY clause.
• Write queries that use the HAVING clause to filter groups.

Using Subqueries

This module describes several types of subquery and how and when to use them.

Lessons

• Writing Self-Contained Subqueries
• Writing Correlated Subqueries
• Using the EXISTS Predicate with Subqueries

Lab : Using Subqueries

• Writing Queries That Use Self-Contained Subqueries
• Writing Queries That Use Scalar and Multi-Result Subqueries
• Writing Queries That Use Correlated Subqueries and an EXISTS Clause

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe where subqueries may be used in a SELECT statement.
• Write queries that use correlated subqueries in a SELECT statement
• Write queries that use EXISTS predicates in a WHERE clause to test for the existence of qualifying rows
• Use the EXISTS predicate to efficiently check for the existence of rows in a subquery.

Using Table Expressions

Previously in this course, you learned about using subqueries as an expression that returned results to an outer calling query. Like subqueries, table expressions are query expressions, but table expressions extend this idea by allowing you to name them and to work with their results as you would work with data in any valid relational table. Microsoft SQL Server supports four types of table expressions: derived tables, common table expression (CTEs), views, and inline table-valued functions (TVFs). In this module, you will learn to work with these forms of table expressions and learn how to use them to help create a modular approach to writing queries.

Lessons

• Using Views
• Using Inline Table-Valued Functions
• Using Derived Tables
• Using Common Table Expressions

Lab : Using Table Expressions

• Writing Queries That Use Views
• Writing Queries That Use Derived Tables
• Writing Queries That Use Common Table Expressions (CTEs)
• Writing Queries That Use Inline Table-Valued Expressions (TVFs)

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Write queries that return results from views.
• Use the CREATE FUNCTION statement to create simple inline TVFs.
• Write queries that create and retrieve results from derived tables.
• Write queries that create CTEs and return results from the table expression.

Using Set Operators

This module introduces how to use the set operators UNION, INTERSECT, and EXCEPT to compare rows between two input sets.

Lessons

• Writing Queries with the UNION operator
• Using EXCEPT and INTERSECT
• Using APPLY

Lab : Using Set Operators

• Writing Queries That Use UNION Set Operators and UNION ALL
• Writing Queries That Use CROSS APPLY and OUTER APPLY Operators
• Writing Queries That Use the EXCEPT and INTERSECT Operators

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Write queries that use UNION to combine input sets.
• Write queries that use UNION ALL to combine input sets
• Write queries that use the EXCEPT operator to return only rows in one set but not another.
• Write queries that use the INTERSECT operator to return only rows that are present in both sets
• Write queries using the CROSS APPLY operator.
• Write queries using the OUTER APPLY operator

Using Windows Ranking, Offset, and Aggregate Functions

This module describes the benefits to using window functions. Restrict window functions to rows defined in an OVER clause, including partitions and frames. Write queries that use window functions to operate on a window of rows and return ranking, aggregation, and offset comparison results.

Lessons

• Creating Windows with OVER
• Exploring Window Functions

Lab : Using Windows Ranking, Offset, and Aggregate Functions

• Writing Queries that use Ranking Functions
• Writing Queries that use Offset Functions
• Writing Queries that use Window Aggregate Functions

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the T-SQL components used to define windows, and the relationships between them.
• Write queries that use the OVER clause, with partitioning, ordering, and framing to define windows
• Write queries that use window aggregate functions.
• Write queries that use window ranking functions.
• Write queries that use window offset functions

Pivoting and Grouping Sets

This module describes write queries that pivot and unpivot result sets. Write queries that specify multiple groupings with grouping sets

Lessons

• Writing Queries with PIVOT and UNPIVOT
• Working with Grouping Sets

Lab : Pivoting and Grouping Sets

• Writing Queries that use the PIVOT Operator
• Writing Queries that use the UNPIVOT Operator
• Writing Queries that use the GROUPING SETS CUBE and ROLLUP Subclauses

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe how pivoting data can be used in T-SQL queries.
• Write queries that pivot data from rows to columns using the PIVOT operator.
• Write queries that unpivot data from columns back to rows using the UNPIVOT operator.
• Write queries using the GROUPING SETS subclause.
• Write queries that use ROLLUP AND CUBE.
• Write queries that use the GROUPING_ID function.

Executing Stored Procedures

This module describes how to return results by executing stored procedures. Pass parameters to procedures. Create simple stored procedures that encapsulate a SELECT statement. Construct and execute dynamic SQL with EXEC and sp_executesql.

Lessons

• Querying Data with Stored Procedures
• Passing Parameters to Stored procedures
• Creating Simple Stored Procedures
• Working with Dynamic SQL

Lab : Executing Stored Procedures

• Using the EXECUTE statement to Invoke Stored Procedures
• Passing Parameters to Stored procedures
• Executing System Stored Procedures

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe stored procedures and their use.
• Write T-SQL statements that execute stored procedures to return data.
• Write EXECUTE statements that pass input parameters to stored procedures.
• Write T-SQL batches that prepare output parameters and execute stored procedures.
• Use the CREATE PROCEDURE statement to write a stored procedure.
• Create a stored procedure that accepts input parameters.
• Describe how T-SQL can be dynamically constructed.
• Write queries that use dynamic SQL.

Programming with T-SQL

This module describes how to enhance your T-SQL code with programming elements.

Lessons

• T-SQL Programming Elements
• Controlling Program Flow

Lab : Programming with T-SQL

• Declaring Variables and Delimiting Batches
• Using Control-Of-Flow Elements
• Using Variables in a Dynamic SQL Statement
• Using Synonyms

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe how Microsoft SQL Server treats collections of statements as batches.
• Create and submit batches of T-SQL code for execution by SQL Server.
• Describe how SQL Server stores temporary objects as variables.
• Write code that declares and assigns variables.
• Create and invoke synonyms
• Describe the control-of-flow elements in T-SQL.
• Write T-SQL code using IF…ELSE blocks.
• Write T-SQL code that uses WHILE.

Implementing Error Handling

This module introduces error handling for T-SQL.

Lessons

• Implementing T-SQL error handling
• Implementing structured exception handling

Lab : Implementing Error Handling

• Redirecting errors with TRY/CATCH
• Using THROW to pass an error message back to a client

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Implement T-SQL error handling.
• Implement structured exception handling.

Implementing Transactions

This module describes how to implement transactions.

Lessons

• Transactions and the database engines
• Controlling transactions

Lab : Implementing Transactions

• Controlling transactions with BEGIN, COMMIT, and ROLLBACK
• Adding error handling to a CATCH block

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe transactions and the differences between batches and transactions.
• Describe batches and how they are handled by SQL Server.
• Create and manage transactions with transaction control language (TCL) statements.
• Use SET XACT_ABORT to define SQL Servers handling of transactions outside TRY/CATCH blocks.

Introduction to Database Development

Before beginning to work with Microsoft SQL Server in either a development or an administration role, it is important to understand the scope of the SQL Server platform. In particular, it is useful to understand that SQL Server is not just a database engine—it is a complete platform for managing enterprise data.

SQL Server provides a strong data platform for all sizes of organizations, in addition to a comprehensive set of tools to make development easier, and more robust.

Lessons

• Introduction to the SQL Server Platform
• SQL Server Database Development Tasks

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the SQL Server platform.
• Use SQL Server administration tools.

Designing and Implementing Tables

In a relational database management system (RDBMS), user and system data is stored in tables. Each table consists of a set of rows that describe entities and a set of columns that hold the attributes of an entity. For example, a Customer table might have columns such as CustomerName and CreditLimit, and a row for each customer. In Microsoft SQL Server data management software tables are contained within schemas that are very similar in concept to folders that contain files in the operating system. Designing tables is one of the most important tasks that a database developer undertakes, because incorrect table design leads to the inability to query the data efficiently.

After an appropriate design has been created, it is important to know how to correctly implement the design.

Lessons

• Designing Tables
• Data Types
• Working with Schemas
• Creating and Altering Tables

Lab : Designing and Implementing Tables

• Designing Tables
• Creating Schemas
• Creating Tables

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Design tables using normalization, primary and foreign keys.
• Work with identity columns.
• Understand built-in and user data types.
• Use schemas in your database designs to organize data, and manage object security.
• Work with computed columns and temporary tables.

Advanced Table Designs

The physical design of a database can have a significant impact on the ability of the database to meet the storage and performance requirements set out by the stakeholders. Designing a physical database implementation includes planning the file groups, how to use partitioning to manage large tables, and using compression to improve storage and performance. Temporal tables are a new feature in SQL Server and offer a straightforward solution to collecting changes to your data.

Lessons

• Partitioning Data
• Compressing Data
• Temporal Tables

Lab : Using Advanced Table Designs

• Partitioning Data
• Compressing Data

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the considerations for using partitioned tables in a SQL Server database.
• Plan for using data compression in a SQL Server database.
• Use temporal tables to store and query changes to your data.

Ensuring Data Integrity through Constraints

The quality of data in your database largely determines the usefulness and effectiveness of applications that rely on it—the success or failure of an organization or a business venture could depend on it. Ensuring data integrity is a critical step in maintaining high-quality data.

You should enforce data integrity at all levels of an application from first entry or collection through storage. Microsoft SQL Server data management software provides a range of features to simplify the job.

Lessons

• Enforcing Data Integrity
• Implementing Data Domain Integrity
• Implementing Entity and Referential Integrity

Lab : Using Data Integrity Through Constraints

• Add Constraints
• Test the Constraints

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the options for enforcing data integrity, and the levels at which they should be applied.
• Implement domain integrity through options such as check, unique, and default constraints.
• Implement referential integrity through primary and foreign key constraints.

Introduction to Indexes

An index is a collection of pages associated with a table. Indexes are used to improve the performance of queries or enforce uniqueness. Before learning to implement indexes, it is helpful to understand how they work, how effective different data types are when used within indexes, and how indexes can be constructed from multiple columns. This module discusses table structures that do not have indexes, and the different index types available in Microsoft SQL Server.

Lessons

• Core Indexing Concepts
• Data Types and Indexes
• Heaps, Clustered, and Nonclustered Indexes
• Single Column and Composite Indexes

Lab : Implementing Indexes

• Creating a Heap
• Creating a Clustered Index
• Creating a Covered Index

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain core indexing concepts.
• Evaluate which index to use for different data types.
• Describe the difference between single and composite column indexes.

Designing Optimized Index Strategies

Indexes play an important role in enabling SQL Server to retrieve data from a database quickly and efficiently. This module discusses advanced index topics including covering indexes, the INCLUDE clause, query hints, padding and fill factor, statistics, using DMOs, the Database Tuning Advisor, and Query Store.

Lessons

• Index Strategies
• Managing Indexes
• Execution Plans
• The Database Engine Tuning Advisor
• Query Store

Lab : Optimizing Indexes

• Using Query Store
• Heaps and Clustered Indexes
• Creating a Covered Index

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• What a covering index is, and when to use one.
• The issues involved in managing indexes.
• Actual and estimated execution plans.
• How to use Database Tuning Advisor to improve the performance of queries.
• How to use Query Store to improve query performance.

Columnstore Indexes

Introduced in Microsoft SQL Server 2012, columnstore indexes are used in large data warehouse solutions by many organizations. This module highlights the benefits of using these indexes on large datasets; the improvements made to columnstore indexes in SQL Server 2016; and the considerations needed to use columnstore indexes effectively in your solutions.

Lessons

• Introduction to Columnstore Indexes
• Creating Columnstore Indexes
• Working with Columnstore Indexes

Lab : Using Columnstore Indexes

• Creating a Columnstore Index
• Create a Memory Optimized Columnstore Table

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe columnstore indexes and identify suitable scenarios for their use.
• Create clustered and nonclustered columnstore indexes.
• Describe considerations for using columnstore indexes.

Designing and Implementing Views

This module describes the design and implementation of views. A view is a special type of query—one that is stored and can be used in other queries—just like a table. With a view, only the query definition is stored on disk; not the result set. The only exception to this is indexed views, when the result set is also stored on disk, just like a table.

Views simplify the design of a database by providing a layer of abstraction, and hiding the complexity of table joins. Views are also a way of securing your data by giving users permissions to use a view, without giving them permissions to the underlying objects. This means data can be kept private, and can only be viewed by appropriate users.

Lessons

• Introduction to Views
• Creating and Managing Views
• Performance Considerations for Views

Lab : Designing and Implementing Views

• Creating Standard Views
• Creating an Updateable view

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Understand the role of views in database design.
• Create and manage views.
• Understand the performance considerations with views.

Designing and Implementing Stored Procedures

This module describes the design and implementation of stored procedures.

Lessons

• Introduction to Stored Procedures
• Working with Stored Procedures
• Implementing Parameterized Stored Procedures
• Controlling Execution Context

Lab : Designing and Implementing Stored Procedures

• Create Stored procedures
• Create Parameterized Stored procedures
• Changes Stored Procedure Execution Context

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Understand what stored procedures are, and what benefits they have.
• Design, create, and alter stored procedures.
• Control the execution context of stored procedures.
• Implement stored procedures that use parameters.

Designing and Implementing User-Defined Functions

Functions are routines that you use to encapsulate frequently performed logic. Rather than having to repeat the function logic in many places, code can call the function. This makes code more maintainable, and easier to debug.

In this module, you will learn to design and implement user-defined functions (UDFs) that enforce business rules or data consistency. You will also learn how to modify and maintain existing functions.

Lessons

• Overview of Functions
• Designing and Implementing Scalar Functions
• Designing and Implementing Table-Valued Functions
• Considerations for Implementing Functions
• Alternatives to Functions

Lab : Designing and Implementing User-Defined Functions

• Format Phone numbers
• Modify an Existing Function

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe different types of functions.
• Design and implement scalar functions.
• Design and implement table-valued functions (TVFs).
• Describe considerations for implementing functions.
• Describe alternatives to functions.

Responding to Data Manipulation via Triggers

Data Manipulation Language (DML) triggers are powerful tools that you can use to enforce domain, entity, referential data integrity and business logic. The enforcement of integrity helps you to build reliable applications. In this module, you will learn what DML triggers are, how they enforce data integrity, the different types of trigger that are available to you, and how to define them in your database.

Lessons

• Designing DML Triggers
• Implementing DML Triggers
• Advanced Trigger Concepts

Lab : Responding to Data Manipulation by Using Triggers

• Create and Test the Audit Trigger
• Improve the Audit Trigger

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Design DML triggers
• Implement DML triggers
• Explain advanced DML trigger concepts, such as nesting and recursion.

Using In-Memory Tables

Microsoft SQL Server 2014 data management software introduced in-memory online transaction processing (OLTP) functionality features to improve the performance of OLTP workloads. SQL Server adds several enhancements, such as the ability to alter a memory-optimized table without recreating it. Memory-optimized tables are primarily stored in memory, which provides the improved performance by reducing hard disk access.

Natively compiled stored procedures further improve performance over traditional interpreted Transact-SQL.

Lessons

• Memory-Optimized Tables
• Natively Compiled Stored Procedures

Lab : Using In-Memory Database Capabilities

• Using Memory-Optimized Tables
• Using Natively Compiled Stored procedures

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Use memory-optimized tables to improve performance for latch-bound workloads.
• Use natively compiled stored procedures.

Implementing Managed Code in SQL Server

As a SQL Server professional, you are likely to be asked to create databases that meet business needs. Most requirements can be met using Transact-SQL. However, occasionally you may need additional capabilities that can only be met by using common language runtime (CLR) code.

As functionality is added to SQL Server with each new release, the necessity to use managed code decreases. However, there are times when you might need to create aggregates, stored procedures, triggers, user-defined functions, or user-defined types. You can use any .NET Framework language to develop these objects.

In this module, you will learn how to use CLR managed code to create user-defined database objects for SQL Server.

Lessons

• Introduction to CLR Integration in SQL Server
• Implementing and Publishing CLR Assemblies

Lab : Implementing Managed Code in SQL Server

• Assessing Proposed CLR Code
• Creating a Scalar-Valued CLR Function
• Creating a Table Valued CLR Function

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain the importance of CLR integration in SQL Server.
• Implement and publish CLR assemblies using SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT).

Storing and Querying XML Data in SQL Server

XML provides rules for encoding documents in a machine-readable form. It has become a widely adopted standard for representing data structures, rather than sending unstructured documents. Servers that are running Microsoft SQL Server data management software often need to use XML to interchange data with other systems; many SQL Server tools provide an XML-based interface. SQL Server offers extensive handling of XML, both for storage and querying. This module introduces XML, shows how to store XML data within SQL Server, and shows how to query the XML data. The ability to query XML data directly avoids the need to extract data into a relational format before executing Structured Query Language (SQL) queries. To effectively process XML, you need to be able to query XML data in several ways: returning existing relational data as XML, and querying data that is already XML.

Lessons

• Introduction to XML and XML Schemas
• Storing XML Data and Schemas in SQL Server
• Implementing the XML Data Type
• Using the Transact-SQL FOR XML Statement
• Getting Started with XQuery
• Shredding XML

Lab : Storing and Querying XML Data in SQL Server

• Determining when to use XML
• Testing XML Data Storage in Variables
• Using XML Schemas
• Using FOR XML Queries
• Creating a Stored Procedure to Return XML

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe XML and XML schemas.
• Store XML data and associated XML schemas in SQL Server.
• Implement XML indexes within SQL Server.
• Use the Transact-SQL FOR XML statement.
• Work with basic XQuery queries.

Storing and Querying Spatial Data in SQL Server

This module describes spatial data and how this data can be implemented within SQL Server.

Lessons

• Introduction to Spatial Data
• Working with SQL Server Spatial Data Types
• Using Spatial Data in Applications

Lab : Working with SQL Server Spatial Data

• Become Familiar with the Geometry Data Type
• Add Spatial Data to an Existing Table
• Find Nearby Locations

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe how spatial data can be stored in SQL Server
• Use basic methods of the GEOMETRY and GEOGRAPHY data types
• Query databases containing spatial data

Storing and Querying BLOBs and Text Documents in SQL Server

Traditionally, databases have been used to store information in the form of simple values—such as integers, dates, and strings—that contrast with more complex data formats, such as documents, spreadsheets, image files, and video files. As the systems that databases support have become more complex, administrators have found it necessary to integrate this more complex file data with the structured data in database tables. For example, in a product database, it can be helpful to associate a product record with the service manual or instructional videos for that product. SQL Server provides several ways to integrate these files—that are often known as Binary Large Objects (BLOBs)—and enable their content to be indexed and included in search results. In this module, you will learn how to design and optimize a database that includes BLOBs.

Lessons

• Considerations for BLOB Data
• Working with FILESTREAM
• Using Full-Text Search

Lab : Storing and Querying BLOBs and Text Documents in SQL Server

• Enabling and Using FILESTREAM Columns
• Enabling and Using File Tables
• Using a Full-Text Index

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the considerations for designing databases that incorporate BLOB data.
• Describe the benefits and design considerations for using FILESTREAM to store BLOB data on a Windows file system.
• Describe the benefits of using full-text indexing and Semantic Search, and explain how to use these features to search SQL Server data, including unstructured data

SQL Server Concurrency

This module explains how to name, declare, assign values to, and use variables. It also describes how to store data in an array. Concurrency control is a critical feature of multiuser database systems; it allows data to remain consistent when many users are modifying data at the same time. This module covers the implementation of concurrency in Microsoft SQL Server. You will learn about how SQL Server implements concurrency controls, and the different ways you can configure and work with concurrency settings.

Lessons

• Concurrency and Transactions
• Locking Internals

Lab : SQL Server Concurrency

• Implement Snapshot Isolation
• Implement Partition Level Locking

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe concurrency and transactions in SQL Server.
• Describe SQL Server locking.

Performance and Monitoring

SQL Server Security

Protection of data within your Microsoft SQL Server databases is essential and requires a working knowledge of the issues and SQL Server security features.

This module describes SQL Server security models, logins, users, partially contained databases, and cross-server authorization.

Lessons

• Authenticating Connections to SQL Server
• Authorizing Logins to Connect to databases
• Authorization Across Servers
• Partially Contained Databases

Lab : Authenticating Users

• Create Logins
• Create Database Users
• Correct Application Login Issues
• Configure Security for Restored Databases

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• SQL Server basic concepts.
• SQL Server connection authentication.
• User login authorization to databases.
• Partially contained databases.
• Authorization across servers.

Assigning Server and Database Roles

Using roles simplifies the management of user permissions. With roles, you can control authenticated users’ access to system resources based on each user’s job function—rather than assigning permissions user-by-user, you can grant permissions to a role, then make users members of roles. Microsoft SQL Server includes support for security roles defined at server level and at database level.

Lessons

• Working with server roles
• Working with Fixed Database Roles
• Assigning User-Defined Database Roles

Lab : Assigning server and database roles

• Assigning Server Roles
• Assigning Fixed Database Roles
• Assigning User-Defined Database Roles
• Verifying Security

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe and use server roles to manage server-level security.
• Describe and use fixed database roles.
• Use custom database roles and application roles to manage database-level security.

Authorizing Users to Access Resources

In the previous modules, you have seen how Microsoft SQL Server security is organized and how sets of permissions can be assigned at the server and database level by using fixed server roles, user-defined server roles, fixed database roles, and application roles. The final step in authorizing users to access SQL Server resources is the authorization of users and roles to access server and database objects.

In this module, you will see how these object permissions are managed. In addition to access permissions on database objects, SQL Server provides the ability to determine which users are allowed to execute code, such as stored procedures and functions. In many cases, these permissions and the permissions on the database objects are best configured at the schema level rather than at the level of the individual object. Schema-based permission grants can simplify your security architecture. You will explore the granting of permissions at the schema level in the final lesson of this module.

Lessons

• Authorizing User Access to Objects
• Authorizing Users to Execute Code
• Configuring Permissions at the Schema Level

Lab : Authorizing users to access resources

• Granting, Denying, and Revoking Permissions on Objects
• Granting EXECUTE Permissions on Code
• Granting Permissions at the Schema Level

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Authorize user access to objects.
• Authorize users to execute code.
• Configure permissions at the schema level.

Protecting Data with Encryption and Auditing

When configuring security for your Microsoft SQL Server systems, you should ensure that you meet any of your organization’s compliance requirements for data protection. Organizations often need to adhere to industry-specific compliance policies, which mandate auditing of all data access. To address this requirement, SQL Server provides a range of options for implementing auditing.

Another common compliance requirement is the encryption of data to protect against unauthorized access in the event that access to the database files is compromised. SQL Server supports this requirement by providing transparent data encryption (TDE). To reduce the risk of information leakage by users with administrative access to a database, columns containing sensitive data—such as credit card numbers or national identity numbers—can be encrypted using the Always Encrypted feature.

This module describes the available options for auditing in SQL Server, how to use and manage the SQL Server Audit feature, and how to implement encryption.

Lessons

• Options for auditing data access in SQL Server
• Implementing SQL Server Audit
• Managing SQL Server Audit
• Protecting Data with Encryption

Lab : Using Auditing and Encryption

• Working with SQL Server Audit
• Encrypt a Column as Always Encrypted
• Encrypt a Database using TDE

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the options for auditing data access.
• Implement SQL Server Audit.
• Manage SQL Server Audit.
• Describe and implement methods of encrypting data in SQL Server.
• Implement encryption

Recovery Models and Backup Strategies

One of the most important aspects of a database administrator’s role is ensuring that organizational data is reliably backed up so that, if a failure occurs, you can recover the data. Even though the computing industry has known about the need for reliable backup strategies for decades—and discussed this at great length—unfortunate stories regarding data loss are still commonplace. A further problem is that, even when the strategies in place work as they were designed, the outcomes still regularly fail to meet an organization’s operational requirements.

In this module, you will consider how to create a strategy that is aligned with organizational needs, based on the available backup models, and the role of the transaction logs in maintaining database consistency.

Lessons

• Understanding Backup Strategies
• SQL Server Transaction Logs
• Planning Backup Strategies

Lab : Understanding SQL Server recovery models

• Plan a Backup Strategy
• Configure Database Recovery Models

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe various backup strategies.
• Describe how database transaction logs function.
• Plan SQL Server backup strategies.

Backing Up SQL Server Databases

In the previous module, you learned how to plan a backup strategy for a SQL Server system. You can now learn how to perform SQL Server backups, including full and differential database backups, transaction log backups, and partial backups.

In this module, you will learn how to apply various backup strategies.

Lessons

• Backing Up Databases and Transaction Logs
• Managing Database Backups
• Advanced Database Options

Lab : Backing Up Databases

• Backing Up Databases
• Performing Database, Differential, and Transaction Log Backups
• Performing a Partial Backup

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Perform backups of SQL Server databases and transaction logs.
• Manage database backups.
• Describe advanced backup options.

Restoring SQL Server 2016 Databases

In the previous module, you learned how to create backups of Microsoft SQL Server 2016 databases. A backup strategy might involve many different types of backup, so it is essential that you can effectively restore them.

You will often be restoring a database in an urgent situation. You must, however, ensure that you have a clear plan of how to proceed and successfully recover the database to the required state. A good plan and understanding of the restore process can help avoid making the situation worse.

Some database restores are related to system failure. In these cases, you will want to return the system as close as possible to the state it was in before the failure. Some failures, though, are related to human error and you might wish to recover the system to a point before that error. The point-in-time recovery features of SQL Server 2016 can help you to achieve this.

Because they are typically much larger, user databases are more likely to be affected by system failures than system databases. However, system databases can be affected by failures, and special care should be taken when recovering them. In particular, you need to understand how to recover each system database because you cannot use the same process for all system databases.

In this module, you will see how to restore user and system databases and how to implement point-in-time recovery.

Lessons

• Understanding the Restore Process
• Restoring Databases
• Advanced Restore Scenarios
• Point-in-Time Recovery

Lab : Restoring SQL Server Databases

• Restoring a Database Backup
• Restring Database, Differential, and Transaction Log Backups
• Performing a Piecemeal Restore

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain the restore process.
• Restore databases.
• Perform advanced restore operations.
• Perform a point-in-time recovery.

Automating SQL Server Management

The tools provided by Microsoft SQL Server make administration easy when compared to some other database engines. However, even when tasks are easy to perform, it is common to have to repeat a task many times. Efficient database administrators learn to automate repetitive tasks. This can help to avoid situations where an administrator forgets to execute a task at the required time. Perhaps more importantly, the automation of tasks helps to ensure that they are performed consistently, each time they are executed.

This module describes how to use SQL Server Agent to automate jobs, how to configure security contexts for jobs, and how to implement multiserver jobs.

Lessons

• Automating SQL Server management
• Working with SQL Server Agent
• Managing SQL Server Agent Jobs
• Multi-server Management

Lab : Automating SQL Server Management

• Create a SQL Server Agent Job
• Test a Job
• Schedule a Job
• Configure Master and Target Servers

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe methods for automating SQL Server Management.
• Configure jobs, job step types, and schedules.
• Manage SQL Server Agent jobs.
• Configure master and target servers.

Configuring Security for SQL Server Agent

Other modules in this course have demonstrated the need to minimize the permissions that are granted to users, following the principle of “least privilege.” This means that users have only the permissions that they need to perform their tasks. The same logic applies to the granting of permissions to SQL Server Agent. Although it is easy to execute all jobs in the context of the SQL Server Agent service account, and to configure that account as an administrative account, a poor security environment would result from doing this. It is important to understand how to create a minimal privilege security environment for jobs that run in SQL Server Agent.

Lessons

• Understanding SQL Server Agent Security
• Configuring Credentials
• Configuring Proxy Accounts

Lab : Configuring Security for SQL Server Agent

• Analyzing Problems in SQL Server Agent
• Configuring a Credential
• Configuring a Proxy Account
• Configuring and testing the Security Context of a Job

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain SQL Server Agent security.
• Configure credentials.
• Configure proxy accounts.

Monitoring SQL Server with Alerts and Notifications

One key aspect of managing Microsoft SQL Server in a proactive manner is to make sure you are aware of problems and events that occur in the server, as they happen. SQL Server logs a wealth of information about issues. You can configure it to advise you automatically when these issues occur, by using alerts and notifications. The most common way that SQL Server database administrators receive details of events of interest is by email message. This module covers the configuration of Database Mail, alerts, and notifications for a SQL Server instance, and the configuration of alerts for Microsoft Azure SQL Database.

Lessons

• Monitoring SQL Server Errors
• Configuring Database Mail
• Operators, Alerts, and Notifications
• Alerts in Azure SQL Database

Lab : Monitoring SQL Server with Alerts and Notifications

• Configuring Database Mail
• Configuring Operators
• Configuring Alerts and Notifications
• Testing Alerts and Notifications

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Monitor SQL Server errors.
• Configure database mail.
• Configure operators, alerts, and notifications.
• Work with alerts in Azure SQL Database.

Introduction to Managing SQL Server by using PowerShell

This module looks at how to use Windows PowerShell with Microsoft SQL Server. Businesses are constantly having to increase the efficiency and reliability of maintaining their IT infrastructure; with PowerShell, you can improve this efficiency and reliability by creating scripts to carry out tasks. PowerShell scripts can be tested and applied multiple times to multiple servers, saving your organization both time and money.

Lessons

• Getting Started with Windows PowerShell
• Configure SQL Server using PowerShell
• Administer and Maintain SQL Server with PowerShell
• Managing Azure SQL Databases using PowerShell

Lab : Using PowerShell to Manage SQL Server

• Getting Started with PowerShell
• Using PowerShell to Change SQL Server settings

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the benefits of PowerShell and its fundamental concepts.
• Configure SQL Server by using PowerShell.
• Administer and maintain SQL Server by using PowerShell.
• Manage an Azure SQL Database by using PowerShell.

Tracing Access to SQL Server with Extended events

Monitoring performance metrics provides a great way to assess the overall performance of a database solution. However, there are occasions when you need to perform more detailed analysis of the activity occurring within a Microsoft SQL Server instance—to troubleshoot problems and identify ways to optimize workload performance.

SQL Server Extended Events is a flexible, lightweight event-handling system built into the Microsoft SQL Server Database Engine. This module focuses on the architectural concepts, troubleshooting strategies and usage scenarios of Extended Events.

Lessons

• Extended Events Core Concepts
• Working with Extended Events

Lab : Extended Events

• Using the System_Health Extended Events Session
• Tracking Page Splits Using Extended Events

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe Extended Events core concepts.
• Create and query Extended Events sessions.

Monitoring SQL Server

The Microsoft SQL Server Database Engine can run for long periods without the need for administrative attention. However, if you regularly monitor the activity that occurs on the database server, you can deal with potential issues before they arise. SQL Server provides a number of tools that you can use to monitor current activity and record details of previous activity. You need to become familiar with what each of the tools does and how to use them. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the volume of output that monitoring tools can provide, so you also need to learn techniques for analyzing their output.

Lessons

• Monitoring activity
• Capturing and Managing Performance Data
• Analyzing Collected Performance Data
• SQL Server Utility

Lab : Monitoring SQL Server

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Monitor current activity.
• Capture and manage performance data.
• Analyze collected performance data.
• Configure SQL Server Utility.

Troubleshooting SQL Server

Database administrators working with Microsoft SQL Server need to adopt the important role of troubleshooter when issues arise—particularly if users of business-critical applications that rely on SQL Server databases are being prevented from working. It is important to have a solid methodology for resolving issues in general, and to be familiar with the most common issues that can arise when working with SQL Server systems.

Lessons

• A Trouble Shooting Methodology for SQL Server
• Resolving Service Related Issues
• Resolving Connectivity and Log-in issues

Lab : Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Troubleshoot and Resolve a SQL Login Issue
• Troubleshoot and Resolve a Service Issue
• Troubleshoot and Resolve a Windows Login Issue
• Troubleshoot and Resolve a Job Execution Issue
• Troubleshoot and Resolve a Performance Issue

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe a troubleshooting methodology for SQL Server.
• Resolve service-related issues.
• Resolve login and connectivity issues.

Importing and Exporting Data

SQL Server Components

This module describes the various SQL Server components and versions.

Lessons

• Introduction to the SQL Server Platform
• Overview of SQL Server Architecture
• SQL Server Services and Configuration Options

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe SQL Server components and versions.
• Describe SQL Server architecture and resource usage.
• Describe SQL Server services and how you manage the configuration of those services.

Installing SQL Server

This modules describes the process to install SQL Server 2016.

Lessons

• Considerations for SQL Installing Server
• TempDB Files
• Installing SQL Server
• Automating Installation

Lab : Installing SQL Server

• Preparing to install SQL Server
• Install an instance of SQL Server
• Perform post installation checks
• Automating Installation

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the considerations when installing SQL Server.
• Describe TempDB files.
• Install SQL Server.
• Automate a SQL Server installation.

Upgrading SQL Server to SQL Server 2017

This module describes the process for upgrading to SQL Server 2017.

Lessons

• Upgrade Requirements
• Upgrade SQL Server Services
• Side by Side Upgrade: Migrating SQL Server Data and Applications

Lab : Upgrading SQL Server

• Create the Application Logins
• Restore the backups of the TSQL Database
• Orphaned Users and Database Compatibility Level

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the upgrade requirements for SQL Server.
• Upgrade SQL Server.
• Migrate SQL Server data and applications.

Working with Databases

This module describes the preinstalled system databases, the physical structure of databases and the most common configuration options related to them.

Lessons

• Introduction to Data Storage with SQL Server
• Managing Storage for System Databases
• Managing Storage for User Databases
• Moving and Copying Database Files
• Buffer Pool Extension

Lab : Managing Database Storage

• Configuring tempdb Storage
• Creating Databases
• Attaching a Database
• Enable Buffer Pool Extension

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe Data Storage with SQL Server.
• Manage Storage for System Databases.
• Manage Storage for User Databases.
• Move and Copy Database Files.
• Describe and use Buffer Pool Extensions.

Performing Database Maintenance

This module covers database maintenance plans.

Lessons

• Ensuring Database Integrity
• Maintaining Indexes
• Automating Routine Database Maintenance

Lab : Performing Database Maintenance

• Use DBCC CHECKDB to Verify Database Integrity
• Rebuild Indexes
• Create a Database Maintenance Plan

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Ensure Database Integrity.
• Maintain Indexes.
• Automate Routine Database Maintenance.

Database Storage Options

Describe SQL Server storage options.

Lessons

• SQL Server storage Performance
• SMB Fileshare
• SQL Server Storage in Microsoft Azure
• Stretch Databases

Lab : Implementing Stretch Database

• Run Stretch Database Advisor
• Implement Stretch Database

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe SQL Server Storage Performance.
• Describe SMB Fileshare.
• Explain SQL Server Storage in Microsoft Azure.
• Describe Stretch Database.

Planning to Deploy SQL Server on Microsoft Azure

This module describes how to plan to deploy SQL Server on Azure.

Lessons

• SQL Server Virtual Machines in Azure
• Azure Storage
• Azure SQL Authentication
• Deploying an Azure SQL Database

Lab : Plan and Deploy an Azure SQL Database

• Plan an Azure SQL Database, Networking, performance tiers, security
• Provision an Azure SQL Database
• Connect to an Azure SQL Database

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Describe SQL Server Virtual Machines in Azure.
• Describe Azure Storage.
• Explain Azure SQL Authentication, auditing and compliance.
• Deploy an Azure SQL Database.

Migrating Databases to Azure SQL Database

This module describes how to migrate databases to Azure SQL Database.

Lessons

• Database Migration Testing Tools
• Database Migration Compatibility Issues
• Migrating a SQL Server Database to Azure SQL Database

Lab : Migrating SQL Server Databases to Azure

• Perform Migration Testing
• Migrate a SQL Server Database to Azure SQL Database
• Test a Migrated Database

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe various database migration testing tools.
• Explain database migration compatibility issues.
• Migrate a SQL Server database to Azure SQL database.

Deploying SQL Server on a Microsoft Azure Virtual Machine

This module describes how to deploy SQL Server on Microsoft Azure VMs.

Lessons

• Deploying SQL Server on an Azure VM
• The Deploy Database to a Microsoft Azure VM Wizard

Lab : Deploying SQL Server on an Azure Virtual Machine

• Provision an Azure VM
• Use the Deploy Database to Azure VM Wizard

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Deploy SQL Server on an Azure VM.
• Use The Deploy Database to a Microsoft Azure VM Wizard.
• Configure SQL Server Connections

Managing databases in the Cloud