Online Transaction Processing

Use the native support for new data types, including XML, to store non-relational data

Build spatial capabilities into your applications with new geography and geometry data types

Manage binary data on file systems as if stored in the database via FILESTREAM

Reduce storage space for nullable values by using Sparse Columns

Store your data more efficiently and improve performance by using Data Compression

Reduce the size and time to complete backups with Backup Compression

Choose a high availability option for your data; Log Shipping, Database Mirroring, or Server Clustering

Take advantage of enhancements to Database Mirroring to reduce latency across low-bandwidth connections, recover suspect pages directly from a mirror server, and achieve transparent redirection from any client in the event of failover

Improve Failover Clustering by using SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server® 2008 to support up to 16 cluster nodes

Perform indexing and backup and restore operations, and add memory and CPUs without needing to take the database offline

Run multiple virtual operating systems on the same physical computer by using Microsoft Windows Server 2008 with the Hyper-V role, with one or more instances of the required SQL Server 2008 services in each virtual machine

Take advantage of SQL Server 2008 Enterprise licensing, which allows you to run unlimited virtual database servers with a license for each physical processor

Use replication to provide local copies of data throughout the enterprise

Reduce the time required to implement and manage a peer-to-peer replication solution by using the new visual designer to enable applications to read or modify data in any of the databases that are participating in replication

Use comprehensive data auditing to monitor all events at the server and database levels, and scale-out auditing across the enterprise

Consolidate enterprise-wide auditing records from multiple sources

Authenticate database users and enforce password policies

Use the SQL Server comprehensive permissions model to help secure data and resources

Centrally manage all services and features, and minimize the attack surface area of your data solution by enabling only the services and features you require

Encrypt data in an entire database via Transparent Data Encryption without the need for application code changes

Use third-party cryptographic providers and Hardware Security Modules to consolidate encryption and key management across applications

Use the consistent interface in SQL Server Management Studio to manage all SQL Server instances and services

Schedule automated administrative tasks and respond proactively to events to reduce the burden on database administrators

Use Policy-Based Management to define configuration policies and apply them across the enterprise

Enforce policies proactively, after changes are made, on a schedule, or explicitly by performing ad hoc checks in real time

Use Performance Data Collector to troubleshoot, tune, and monitor the state of one or more instances of SQL Server 2008

Collect information from multiple sources

Store performance data in a centralized management data warehouse or provide the data to System Center Operations Manager for centralized storage and analysis

Display all relevant troubleshooting information in one place by using Reporting Services