1. Performance
Enhancements :
- Operational Analytics: Insights on operational data, works with in-memory OLTP or on disk
- In-memory OLTP enhancements: Greater T-SQL surface area, terabytes of memory supported and greater number of parallel CPUs
- Query Data Store: Monitor and optimize query plans with full history of query execution
- Native JSON: Parsing & storing of JSON as relational data & exporting relational to JSON
- Temporal Database: Track historical changes
2. Security
Related Upgrades :
- Always Encrypted: Help protect data at rest and in motion with the master key residing with the application & no application changes required
- Row Level Security: Apply fine-grained access control to table rows based on users rights
- Dynamic Data Masking: Real-time obfuscation of data to prevent unauthorized access
3. Enhanced
AlwaysOn:
- Up to 3 synchronous replicas for auto failover across domains
- Round-robin load balancing of replicas
- DTC & SSIS support
- Automatic failover based on database health
4. Improved
Scalability:
- Enhanced Database Caching: Cache data with automatic, multiple TempDB files per instance in multi-core environments
- Support for Windows Server 2016
5. Access
Any Data :
- PolyBase: Manage relational & non-relational data with the simplicity of T-SQL
- Power Query for Analytics and Reporting: Pull data from countless sources into data models and reports
- Enhanced SSIS: Designer support for previous SSIS versions and support for Power Query
6. Manage
and Scale:
- Enterprise-grade Analysis Services: Enhanced performance and scalability for Analysis Services
- Single SSDT in Visual Studio 2015: Build richer analytics solutions as part of your development projects in Visual Studio through a single tool.
- Enhanced MDS: Excel add-in 15X faster, more granular security roles, archival options for transaction logs, and reuse entities across models
7. Powerful
Insights on any device :
- Mobile BI: Business insights for your on-premises data through rich visualization on mobile devices with native apps for Windows, iOS and Android
- Enhanced Reporting Services: New modern reports with rich visualizations
8. Built-in
Advanced Analytics:
- Predictive analytic algorithms directly in SQL Server.
- Expand your “R” script library with Microsoft Azure Marketplace.
9. Hybrid
Solutions :
- Stretch Database: Stretch operational tables in a secure manner into Azure for cost effective historic data availability works with Always Encrypted and Row Level Security
- PowerBI with on-premises data: New interactive query with Analysis Services. Customer data stays behind your firewall
- Hybrid Scenarios with SSIS: Azure Data Factory integration with SSIS, package lineage and impact analysis and connect SSIS to cloud data source
- Enhanced Backup to Azure: Faster restore and 50% reduction in storage, support larger DBs with Block blobs and custom backup schedule with local staging
10. Simplicity
and Consistency:
- Easy migration of on-premises SQL Server: Simple point and click migration to Azure
- Simplified Add Azure Replica Wizard: Simplified hybrid HA & DR with AlwaysOn
- Common Development, Management and Identity Tools: Including Active Directory, Visual Studio, Hyper-V and System Center
- Consistent Experience from SQL Server on-premises to Microsoft Azure IaaS and PaaS
