Bob Ward articles

Bob Ward

Principal Architect, Microsoft Azure Data

Bob Ward is a Principal Architect for the Microsoft Azure Data team, which owns the development for Microsoft SQL ground to cloud to fabric. Bob has worked for Microsoft for 31+ years on every version of SQL Server shipped from OS/2 1.1 to SQL Server 2022 including Azure SQL and SQL database in Fabric. Bob is a well-known speaker on SQL Server, Azure SQL, AI, and Microsoft Fabric often presenting talks on new releases, internals, and specialized topics at events such as SQLBits, Microsoft Build, Microsoft Ignite, PASS Summit, Fabric Community Conference, and VS Live. You can also learn Azure SQL from him on the popular series https://aka.ms/azuresql4beginners. You can follow him at @bobwardms or linkedin.com/in/bobwardms. Bob is the author of the books Pro SQL Server on Linux, SQL Server 2019 Revealed, Azure SQL Revealed, SQL Server 2022 Revealed, and Azure SQL Revealed 2nd Edition available from Apress Media.

Published January 15, 2025

6 min read

The year ahead for SQL Server: Ground to cloud to fabric

The “state of the union” in 2025 of Microsoft new releases and capabilities for SQL Server, Azure SQL, SQL database in Fabric, Copilots, and more.

Published June 26, 2024

9 min read

Getting started with delivering generative AI capabilities in SQL Server and Azure SQL

Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL is the data platform to power today’s modern applications with security, performance, and availability.

Published April 25, 2024

4 min read

Why migrate Windows Server and SQL Server to Azure: ROI, innovation, and free offers

Learn more on how we’re connecting with customers talking about the value of migration.

Published February 15, 2024

7 min read

How SQL developers can maximize savings

Whether you build applications for SQL Server or in Azure, there are several cost saving options for developers.

Published June 30, 2022

1 min read

Introducing the SQL Server 2022 blog series

In our upcoming SQL Server 2022 blog series, you will learn about new innovation, discover best practices, and gain product insights.

Published February 10, 2022

3 min read

Meet us at SQLBits 2022 and level up as a data professional

We are excited to be the premium sponsor at this year’s SQLBits 2022, March 8 – 12, in-person in London and virtually.

Events

Published April 12, 2021

1 min read

Azure SQL digital event: Innovate today with Azure SQL

In today’s data-driven world, companies are increasingly looking to the cloud to reduce their infrastructure and administrative costs and provide the on-demand scalability to match their customers’ ever-changing requirements—without sacrificing security, reliability, or cost.

Azure
Events

Published September 17, 2020

2 min read

Azure SQL digital event: Transform your applications with Azure SQL

The impact of COVID-19 has accelerated several trends that already existed in the database world. Overnight, many companies have seen traffic on external and internal applications skyrocket as people adjust to the new normal.

Best Practices

Published February 24, 2020

2 min read

Azure Migration Virtual Event: Best practices for Windows Server and SQL Server

Many customers impacted by end of support for Windows Server and SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 are considering migrating to the cloud. With security and compliance being key drivers, the move from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud seems more obvious now than ever.

Published October 28, 2019

1 min read

Introducing the SQL Server 2019 video learning series

SQL Server 2019 is the new data platform to solve the challenges of the modern data professional including capabilities and solutions such as: SQL Server Big Data Clusters combining the power of SQL Server, Hadoop, Apache Spark™, and Kubernetes to provide an end-to-end data and machine learning platform.

Published May 21, 2019

4 min read

A SQL Server tale of two cities

No one disputes that data is critical to the lifeblood of business, applications, and the computer industry. SQL Server sits at the forefront of any discussion about data these days. So it’s no coincidence that SQL Server is seen, heard, and felt at major industry events.

Published October 24, 2018

4 min read

An Engineer and a tiger walk into a Clinic at the PASS Summit 2018

Sounds like there should be a punchline right? Well, there is. Microsoft will be in full force at PASS Summit 2018, and this is the third blog post in a series describing the involvement of the Microsoft SQL Server engineering team there. You can read more about our keynotes and our Modernizing pre-conference seminar from this series.