Anna Hoffman, the Principal Group Product Manager at Microsoft’s SQL engineering team and host of Data Exposed, dives into the exciting preview of SQL 2025 within Microsoft Fabric. She reveals how keeping data close to analytics enhances efficiency and discusses the transformative role of AI in developing new applications. The conversation covers simplifying data integration for developers, intuitive AI tools improving user experience, and the shift from legacy systems to modern solutions, all driven by customer insights and evolving technologies.

In this conversation, Mattias Karlsson, a seasoned IT Architect and Microsoft MVP from Gothenburg, sheds light on the automation of documentation within the DevOps cycle. He highlights the importance of generating documentation that caters to diverse audiences—developers, operations, and business stakeholders. Mattias discusses tools that can pull metadata from Azure resources, transforming tedious manual documentation into rapid, real-time updates. He also emphasizes the role of structured data, security best practices, and integration within development workflows to maintain efficiency.

Bailey Bercik, a Senior Product Manager on Microsoft Security's Identity Team, dives into the evolving landscape of least privilege and permission management in 2025. He discusses how Entra Permissions Management can streamline unused permissions, making security more manageable. The impact of AI on permissions—both its risks and potential benefits—is explored, emphasizing the need for careful oversight. Bailey also details strategies for refining permissions in AI contexts and advocates for robust monitoring to prevent misuse, ensuring effective privilege management.

As 2025 unfolds, the role of sysadmins faces new challenges and opportunities. Economic uncertainty lingers, but innovative tools like large language models are on the rise. Cybersecurity practices are paramount, with a shift to passwordless security models gaining traction. The transition to Windows 11 marks a critical moment, as organizations navigate end-of-support decisions for Windows 10. Meanwhile, cloud technology is revolutionizing data analytics, making processes smoother and more efficient.

In this engaging discussion, technology journalist Paul Thurrott, renowned for his expertise in the Windows ecosystem, shares insights on the memorable year Windows has had and what lies ahead in 2025. They dive into the implications of Windows 10 reaching end-of-support, the significance of security initiatives, and perceptions of Windows as an 'open platform.' Paul also discusses cost-effective solutions from Ignite, and the growing trend of companies shifting back to on-premises solutions, all while mixing in a festive spirit for the holiday season!

Yitzhak Kesselman, Vice President at Microsoft, discusses the power of real-time intelligence in enhancing business decisions. He explains how Microsoft Fabric integrates data sources into a real-time hub, enabling organizations like call centers to cut down wait times and improve efficiency. The conversation dives into making analytics accessible, emphasizing case studies that show rapid transformations. Yitzhak also highlights the importance of addressing data silos and maintaining data quality during projects, ensuring businesses can harness valuable insights seamlessly.

Angela Dugan, a cloud solution architect manager at Microsoft with expertise in government technology, shares insights on the upcoming deployment of M365 Copilot across various government levels. She discusses the challenges of data governance and security faced by agencies, emphasizing the potential for cost-effective services. The conversation highlights the balance between enhancing productivity with AI while managing compliance and technical debt. Dugan also addresses misconceptions around SharePoint and the need for tailored education to maximize the benefits of Copilot.

Rick Claus and Joey Snow return to share their top gadget picks for sysadmins, blending humor with practical advice. They dive into quirky gift ideas from a D&D anniversary celebration to the 50th anniversary of imaginative tech. Learn about unique items like a versatile 3D printing pen, innovative cooking tools, and fun online resources for cybersecurity. Also discussed are holiday must-haves like the Ember Baby Bottle System and the Leatherman Wave Plus, perfect for enhancing both creativity and connectivity this festive season.

How does your organization respond to incidents? While at NDC Porto, Richard chatted with Mandi Walls about her experiences with different incidents, from corrupted files to data center failures. Mandi talks about detecting and determining the scope of an incident, whether it is specific to a customer (or group of customers), or possibly system wide. The conversation ranges over external attacks, bad software updates, unique configuration problems, and more. Keeping good records during the incident helps clean up after the event and provides for an effective retrospective.LinksPagerDutyRecorded October 17, 2024

How do you test your database? While at NDC Porto, Richard chatted with Dan Mallott about building unit tests for transactional databases like SQL Server. Dan talks about using testing frameworks constructed for the purpose, like TSQL-T, to make it easier to test individual database elements, from stored procedures to column constraints. The conversation digs into the challenges around testing, tolerating the changes to the database, and tweaking how you write your T-SQL code to be more testable. But the power of getting database tests into your CI/CD pipeline is enormous - catch more problems in testing before they become problems in production!LinkstsqltDbFitRecorded October 17, 2024