Microsoft Data Platform Specialist Certifications

There are a new set of certifications for Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Specialist: Cloud Data Platform Solutions

70-473 Designing and implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions exam 

Microsoft Specialist: Big Data Analytics Solutions

70-475 Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions exam 

More details:

http://buildazure.com/2016/03/09/microsoft-data-platform-specialist-certifications/

SQL Server 2016 Rocks

The SQL Server Data Driven event shared the forthcoming toolset to enable business transformation with data.

The directors of tomorrow will embrace technology to become leaders across industries. If you want to disrupt, you must adopt and adapt to new technology. Data is the connective tissue driving all technological revolution. Data assets are core to the success of a business.  It enables business to engage better with customers to transform products and services
 

T-SQL and R will be in one place for real time predictive analytics  and it is possible to extend databases into the cloud to allow customers to keep information they don't have local storage space for.  

        

SQL Server 2016 is always encrypted even when processing is being done and even if the in-memory engine being used, using homomorphic encryption.

 

SQL Server 2016 is a true data platform not just a database with mission critical intelligence which is what distinguishes it from all others.  SQL Server 2016 is key to business transformation. Intelligence driven from data is now enabling new ways of working.  

     

 

Data is at the heart of transformation enabling engagement with Customers, Running your Business and Transforming your Products.

 

 

Microsoft have created significant incentives to encourage people with Oracle databases to migrate to SQL Server.

 

 

You can run SQL Server 2016 in a docker container and also on Linux.

Announcing SQL Server on Linux

Microsoft have announced SQL Server on Linux to make their data solutions more flexible. The target date for availability is mid-2017.

More details
https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2016/03/07/announcing-sql-server-on-linux/

SQL Server 2016 release candidate

The rapid release model for SQL Server 2016 means Microsoft will be publishing multiple release candidates.

Product enhacements include

• Stretch Database service
• Enhancements to In-Memory OLTP
• Enhancements to SQL Server Analysis Services
• Enhancements to SQL Server Reporting Services

The SQL Server evaluation can be downloaded from https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/evalcenter/evaluate-sql-server-2016

SQL Server 2016 Live Event

The SQL Server 2016 Data Driven Event is here http://bit.ly/1KVY3PC

The event will discuss data transformation 

• how data insights are driving business transformation
• how customers are embracing data to drive innovation
• why SQL Server 2016 has become the industry leader

The SQL Server 2016 Datasheet details the new features.

Useful papers to read: 

Mission Critical white paper
In-memory OLTP technical paper
In-memory OLTP and ColumnstoreFeature Comparision
Deeper data insights
 

RStudio Cheat Sheets

Some great cheat sheets to help you navigate and use RStudio from https://www.rstudio.com/resources/cheatsheets/

RStudio IDE is the most popular integrated development environment for R.

Data Visualization using the ggplot2 package lets you make beautiful and customizable plots of your data

 

There are many more cheat sheets.

Free ebook: Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2016

There is a new free ebook Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2016: Mission-Critical Applications, Deeper Insights, Hyperscale Cloud, Preview Edition.

The chapters released so far are

Better Security
Improved database engine
Better reporting