Mastering Azure SQL for Enterprise-Grade Data Solutions
You're under pressure. Your organisation demands scalable, secure, and high-performance data solutions-yet legacy systems, fragmented knowledge, and outdated practices are holding you back. Performance stalls. Costs creep up. Downtime risks grow. And you’re expected to deliver modern cloud results without a clear, unified path forward. Most Azure SQL learning resources scatter concepts across random labs and incomplete guides. But real-world enterprise success demands precision, architecture mastery, and deep operational insight. Without it, you're not just falling behind-you’re exposing your teams and stakeholders to unnecessary risk. Mastering Azure SQL for Enterprise-Grade Data Solutions is not another theoretical course. This is the structured, battle-tested system for database professionals, cloud architects, and data engineers who need to move from fragmented understanding to certified, board-ready expertise-with measurable impact in under 30 days. One senior data architect at a Fortune 500 financial institution used this program to redesign their mission-critical transactional database layer, cutting query latency by 62% and reducing monthly Azure spend by $18,000-while achieving full compliance with governance standards. His leadership team fast-tracked his promotion because he delivered a documented, reproducible data architecture in just four weeks. This program removes the ambiguity. Every module is engineered to give you the confidence, command, and certified credibility needed to lead enterprise data initiatives with authority. It transforms ambiguity into clarity, risk into strategy, and effort into recognition. Here’s how this course is structured to help you get there.Course Format & Delivery Details Self-Paced, On-Demand Access with Lifetime Updates
This course is designed for the busy professional. It is fully self-paced, with on-demand access from any device, anywhere in the world. There are no fixed deadlines, live sessions, or mandatory attendance windows. You progress on your schedule-during nights, weekends, or between project cycles-without sacrificing consistency or quality. Learners typically complete the entire program in 4 to 6 weeks when dedicating 5 to 7 focused hours per week. Many achieve core competency and begin applying key techniques within the first 10 days, including automated scaling, high-availability configuration, and intelligent query tuning-all using real-world enterprise scenarios. Immediate Online Access & Mobile-Friendly Learning Platform
Upon enrollment, you will receive a confirmation email, and your access details will be delivered separately once your course materials are fully provisioned. The platform supports 24/7 global access and is fully responsive across laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Study during commutes, client engagements, or downtime-your progress syncs seamlessly across devices. Direct Instructor Support & Guided Learning Pathways
You’re not alone. Throughout the course, you have access to structured guidance from certified Azure SQL architects with over 15 years of combined experience in financial services, healthcare, and public sector deployments. Receive actionable feedback, clarification on complex scenarios, and real-time support through curated Q&A pathways designed to accelerate understanding and eliminate roadblocks. Industry-Recognised Certification & Credibility
Upon successful completion, you will earn a Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service-an internationally trusted name in enterprise technology training. This certificate is shareable on LinkedIn, verifiable by employers, and designed to validate your mastery of Azure SQL at enterprise scale. Thousands of graduates have used this credential to advance their roles, win promotions, or lead strategic migrations. Transparent, Risk-Free Enrollment with Full Value Protection
Pricing is straightforward, with no hidden fees, subscriptions, or surprise charges. One-time payment grants you complete access to all materials. We accept all major payment methods including Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal. Your success is guaranteed. If you find the course does not meet your expectations for depth, relevance, or professional value, you are covered by our 30-day satisfied-or-refunded promise. This is a no-questions-asked, full refund policy-designed to remove every ounce of perceived risk. “Will This Work For Me?” – Targeted Reassurance
You might be thinking: “I’ve tried cloud courses before. They were too generic, too slow, or too shallow.” This is different. The content is role-specific, outcome-driven, and engineered for real impact. This works even if you’ve never led a full Azure SQL migration, even if your current environment is hybrid or partially cloud-adopted, and even if your SQL Server background is from on-premises systems. Database administrators, cloud engineers, DevOps leads, and enterprise architects-all have achieved mastery using this same structured approach. One BI manager with five years of on-prem SQL Server experience completed this course in 19 days and led her team’s entire reporting warehouse transition to Azure SQL Managed Instance-with zero downtime and 40% cost savings. She credits the course’s step-by-step deployment checklists and compliance templates as the key differentiator. We’ve built in risk reversal so you can invest with confidence. You’re not buying a course. You’re gaining a career-advancing capability with full protection and permanent access.
Module 1: Foundations of Enterprise Data in the Cloud - Understanding modern enterprise data challenges and legacy limitations
- Core principles of cloud-native data architecture
- Azure SQL versus traditional SQL Server: key architectural shifts
- Mapping business requirements to Azure SQL capabilities
- Identifying high-value use cases for cloud migration
- Defining enterprise success criteria: performance, resilience, and compliance
- Role of data governance in cloud environments
- Assessing organisational readiness for Azure SQL adoption
- Introduction to Azure Resource Manager and deployment models
- Setting up secure, role-based access control (RBAC) for teams
- Configuring subscription-level policies for data compliance
- Establishing naming conventions and tagging strategies for auditability
- Overview of cost drivers and chargeback models in Azure
- Understanding the Azure pricing calculator for SQL workloads
- Initial cost optimisation planning for long-term savings
Module 2: Deep Dive into Azure SQL Deployment Models - Comparing Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance, and VM-based options
- Selecting the right deployment model for financial, SaaS, and regulated workloads
- Understanding isolation levels, vCores, and memory allocation by tier
- Provisioning single databases versus elastic pools
- Automating instance creation using ARM templates
- Designing for predictable performance under variable loads
- Planning for high availability across availability zones
- Configuring automatic failover groups for geo-redundancy
- Implementing disaster recovery with active geo-replication
- Setting up read-scale replicas for reporting and analytics offloading
- Navigating licensing models: DTU versus vCore, bring-your-own-license (BYOL)
- Using Azure Hybrid Benefit to reduce licensing costs
- Managing instance lifecycle: pause, resume, and decommissioning
- Integrating with Azure Monitor from day one of deployment
- Establishing baseline performance metrics for future tuning
Module 3: Security Architecture and Identity Management - Implementing zero-trust security for Azure SQL environments
- Configuring Azure Active Directory (AAD) integration for logins
- Migrating SQL authentication to AAD-based principals
- Setting up multifactor authentication (MFA) for admin access
- Using AAD groups for role-based permission management
- Enforcing conditional access policies for sensitive databases
- Creating custom database roles aligned with business functions
- Principle of least privilege: granular permission assignment
- Implementing row-level security (RLS) for data segmentation
- Applying dynamic data masking to protect PII and PCI data
- Deploying Always Encrypted with secure enclaves
- Configuring key vault integration for encryption key management
- Monitoring unauthorized access attempts via audit logs
- Automating security policy enforcement with Azure Policy
- Generating compliance reports for GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, and ISO
Module 4: Networking, Connectivity, and Isolation Strategies - Designing virtual networks (VNets) for secure SQL access
- Deploying Azure SQL in private subnets with no public endpoints
- Enabling private link for fully private database connectivity
- Configuring service endpoints to restrict traffic origins
- Setting up point-to-site and site-to-site VPNs for hybrid access
- Integrating with ExpressRoute for dedicated private connectivity
- Using firewall rules to control IP range access
- Automating firewall rule updates via CLI and PowerShell
- Configuring DNS settings for private endpoint resolution
- Securing application connections with connection pooling
- Implementing authentication token-based connection strings
- Hardening connection strings against credential exposure
- Using managed identities to eliminate stored credentials
- Validating end-to-end connectivity in multi-tier applications
- Testing failover and client retry logic under network stress
Module 5: Performance Tuning and Query Optimisation - Analysing wait statistics and performance bottlenecks
- Using Query Store to capture and compare execution plans
- Identifying high-CPU, high-I/O, and long-running queries
- Optimising indexing strategies: clustered, non-clustered, filtered
- Creating covering indexes to eliminate key lookups
- Using missing index DMVs to guide index creation
- Monitoring index fragmentation and scheduling maintenance
- Implementing automatic tuning: index and plan recommendations
- Reviewing forced execution plans and plan regression risks
- Adjusting compatibility levels for query processor improvements
- Using query hints judiciously without over-optimisation
- Analysing parameter sniffing and plan cache issues
- Using OPTIMIZE FOR UNKNOWN and local variables when appropriate
- Scaling up versus scaling out for performance gains
- Benchmarking query improvements with real workload traces
Module 6: Automation, DevOps, and CI/CD Pipelines - Version controlling database schemas with SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT)
- Integrating Azure SQL with Git repositories and branching strategies
- Setting up Azure DevOps pipelines for automated deployments
- Using DACPACs and BACPACs for schema and data migration
- Validating deployment scripts with pre-deployment checks
- Automating drift detection between environments
- Implementing blue-green deployment patterns for zero downtime
- Using deployment slots for staging and production isolation
- Rolling back failed deployments using versioned backups
- Automating schema comparison and sync across tiers
- Seeding reference data safely across non-production instances
- Executing idempotent scripts to prevent duplication
- Enforcing code review gates before production deploy
- Integrating with SonarQube for SQL code quality analysis
- Monitoring deployment success with real-time dashboards
Module 7: Monitoring, Alerting, and Operational Excellence - Configuring Azure Monitor for SQL database metrics collection
- Tracking CPU, data IO, log IO, and storage utilisation
- Setting up custom alert rules for performance thresholds
- Using Log Analytics to query diagnostic logs at scale
- Creating workbooks for rich visual operational reporting
- Analysing wait stats and locking scenarios via DMVs
- Detecting blocking chains and long-held transactions
- Setting up email, SMS, and Teams notifications for critical alerts
- Integrating with Azure Action Groups for escalation workflows
- Using Smart Alerts to reduce false positives
- Applying Resource Health to diagnose platform issues
- Monitoring connection failures and authentication errors
- Tracking user activity for insider threat detection
- Enabling Threat Detection for anomalous database activity
- Scheduling regular health checks with automated runbooks
Module 8: Backup, Recovery, and Business Continuity - Understanding Azure SQL automated backup retention policies
- Configuring point-in-time restore (PITR) across regions
- Performing geo-restore from secondary replicas
- Testing recovery procedures with non-production environments
- Exporting databases to blob storage using BACPAC files
- Scheduling regular exports for audit and compliance
- Importing databases from on-premises or third-party systems
- Using Azure Automation to run backup health checks
- Validating data integrity after restore operations
- Implementing customer-managed TDE keys with key rotation
- Documenting RPO and RTO for stakeholder reporting
- Creating runbooks for emergency recovery scenarios
- Using Azure Site Recovery with SQL VMs when applicable
- Testing failover and failback procedures in staging
- Generating recovery time estimates based on database size
Module 9: Scalability, Elasticity, and Cost Management - Scaling compute and storage independently in vCore model
- Using auto-scaling based on performance thresholds
- Configuring elastic pools for mixed-workload consolidation
- Monitoring pool utilisation and redistributing databases
- Identifying underutilised instances for right-sizing
- Downsizing over-provisioned tiers without performance loss
- Applying reserved capacity for 3-year cost savings
- Using Azure Cost Management to track SQL spend by team
- Generating chargeback reports for internal billing
- Implementing tagging for department and project cost tracking
- Forecasting future spend based on growth trends
- Using Advisor recommendations for cost optimisation
- Identifying idle databases for archiving or deletion
- Archiving cold data to Azure Blob with external tables
- Implementing data tiering strategies for cost efficiency
Module 10: Advanced Analytics and Hybrid Integration - Integrating Azure SQL with Synapse Analytics for big data
- Using PolyBase to query external data sources
- Setting up linked servers to on-premises SQL instances
- Replicating data via transactional or snapshot replication
- Configuring Azure Data Sync for bi-directional sync
- Using Azure Data Factory for ETL pipelines to SQL DB
- Creating incremental load patterns with watermark tables
- Orchestrating complex data workflows with pipelines
- Loading JSON and XML data into relational structures
- Using OPENJSON and FOR JSON for semi-structured data
- Streaming data from Event Hub into Azure SQL
- Processing time-series data with windowing functions
- Integrating with Power BI for real-time dashboards
- Scheduling dataset refreshes securely via gateways
- Building semantic models with role-based security
Module 11: AI-Enhanced Operations and Intelligent Insights - Leveraging Azure SQL’s built-in AI for performance insights
- Interpreting Automatic Tuning recommendations with confidence
- Reviewing index creation and deletion suggestions
- Understanding forced plan correction events
- Using Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) features
- Applying batch mode on rowstore for faster queries
- Enabling memory grant feedback to reduce spills
- Using interleaved execution for multi-statement table functions
- Monitoring plan regression via Query Store alerts
- Applying adaptive joins based on row count variance
- Configuring automatic plan correction policies
- Setting up custom machine learning alerts with Azure ML
- Correlating performance data with business KPIs
- Using anomaly detection for proactive issue resolution
- Generating predictive capacity planning reports
Module 12: Enterprise Governance and Compliance Frameworks - Implementing Azure Blueprints for repeatable SQL deployments
- Using Policy as Code to enforce security standards
- Creating initiative definitions for regulatory compliance
- Assigning policies to management groups and subscriptions
- Auditing policy compliance across hundreds of databases
- Remediating non-compliant resources at scale
- Documenting data lineage for GDPR and CCPA requests
- Integrating with Microsoft Purview for data governance
- Classifying sensitive data using content inspection
- Automating data classification with labeling policies
- Enabling data loss prevention (DLP) for SQL endpoints
- Generating audit trails for access and modification events
- Preparing for external audits with compliance dashboards
- Mapping controls to NIST, CIS, and ISO frameworks
- Creating executive summary reports for board review
Module 13: Migration Strategies from On-Premises and Alternatives - Assessing on-premises SQL Server workloads for cloud fit
- Using Azure Migrate to evaluate database compatibility
- Identifying features unsupported in Azure SQL
- Refactoring legacy T-SQL code for cloud compatibility
- Planning phased migration: lift-and-shift versus re-architect
- Using DMA (Data Migration Assistant) for assessment reports
- Resolving blocking issues before migration kickoff
- Selecting migration tools: DMS, BACPAC, or native restore
- Running cutover during maintenance windows with minimal downtime
- Validating referential integrity post-migration
- Testing application connectivity and performance
- Handling identity and login mapping challenges
- Migrating SQL Agent jobs to Azure Automation
- Replacing linked servers with secure alternatives
- Conducting post-migration optimisation sweeps
Module 14: Real-World Implementation Projects - Project 1: Design and deploy a multi-tenant SaaS database architecture
- Project 2: Migrate a legacy ERP database to Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Project 3: Implement a geo-distributed reporting platform with read replicas
- Project 4: Build a compliance-ready database with full audit and masking
- Project 5: Automate schema deployment across dev, test, and prod environments
- Designing tenant isolation with row-level security and filtering
- Implementing dynamic data masking for customer service roles
- Creating cost allocation dashboards per business unit
- Setting up performance baseline and alerting thresholds
- Generating a runbook for disaster recovery execution
- Documenting architectural decisions in a shareable whitepaper
- Presenting technical design to non-technical stakeholders
- Receiving expert review of implementation artifacts
- Applying feedback to finalise enterprise-ready solutions
- Preparing deployment portfolio for professional presentation
Module 15: Certification Preparation and Career Advancement - Reviewing all core domains for enterprise competency mastery
- Practicing real-world troubleshooting scenarios
- Completing the final assessment with timed case studies
- Submitting implementation artifacts for evaluation
- Receiving personalised feedback on architectural choices
- Accessing the Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn, resumes, and professional profiles
- Drafting achievement statements for performance reviews
- Preparing for technical interviews with Azure SQL focus
- Using the certification to justify promotions or raises
- Gaining access to exclusive alumni templates and checklists
- Joining a network of certified enterprise data professionals
- Receiving updates on new course modules and features
- Enjoying lifetime access to all current and future content
- Continuing professional development with advanced resources
- Understanding modern enterprise data challenges and legacy limitations
- Core principles of cloud-native data architecture
- Azure SQL versus traditional SQL Server: key architectural shifts
- Mapping business requirements to Azure SQL capabilities
- Identifying high-value use cases for cloud migration
- Defining enterprise success criteria: performance, resilience, and compliance
- Role of data governance in cloud environments
- Assessing organisational readiness for Azure SQL adoption
- Introduction to Azure Resource Manager and deployment models
- Setting up secure, role-based access control (RBAC) for teams
- Configuring subscription-level policies for data compliance
- Establishing naming conventions and tagging strategies for auditability
- Overview of cost drivers and chargeback models in Azure
- Understanding the Azure pricing calculator for SQL workloads
- Initial cost optimisation planning for long-term savings
Module 2: Deep Dive into Azure SQL Deployment Models - Comparing Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance, and VM-based options
- Selecting the right deployment model for financial, SaaS, and regulated workloads
- Understanding isolation levels, vCores, and memory allocation by tier
- Provisioning single databases versus elastic pools
- Automating instance creation using ARM templates
- Designing for predictable performance under variable loads
- Planning for high availability across availability zones
- Configuring automatic failover groups for geo-redundancy
- Implementing disaster recovery with active geo-replication
- Setting up read-scale replicas for reporting and analytics offloading
- Navigating licensing models: DTU versus vCore, bring-your-own-license (BYOL)
- Using Azure Hybrid Benefit to reduce licensing costs
- Managing instance lifecycle: pause, resume, and decommissioning
- Integrating with Azure Monitor from day one of deployment
- Establishing baseline performance metrics for future tuning
Module 3: Security Architecture and Identity Management - Implementing zero-trust security for Azure SQL environments
- Configuring Azure Active Directory (AAD) integration for logins
- Migrating SQL authentication to AAD-based principals
- Setting up multifactor authentication (MFA) for admin access
- Using AAD groups for role-based permission management
- Enforcing conditional access policies for sensitive databases
- Creating custom database roles aligned with business functions
- Principle of least privilege: granular permission assignment
- Implementing row-level security (RLS) for data segmentation
- Applying dynamic data masking to protect PII and PCI data
- Deploying Always Encrypted with secure enclaves
- Configuring key vault integration for encryption key management
- Monitoring unauthorized access attempts via audit logs
- Automating security policy enforcement with Azure Policy
- Generating compliance reports for GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, and ISO
Module 4: Networking, Connectivity, and Isolation Strategies - Designing virtual networks (VNets) for secure SQL access
- Deploying Azure SQL in private subnets with no public endpoints
- Enabling private link for fully private database connectivity
- Configuring service endpoints to restrict traffic origins
- Setting up point-to-site and site-to-site VPNs for hybrid access
- Integrating with ExpressRoute for dedicated private connectivity
- Using firewall rules to control IP range access
- Automating firewall rule updates via CLI and PowerShell
- Configuring DNS settings for private endpoint resolution
- Securing application connections with connection pooling
- Implementing authentication token-based connection strings
- Hardening connection strings against credential exposure
- Using managed identities to eliminate stored credentials
- Validating end-to-end connectivity in multi-tier applications
- Testing failover and client retry logic under network stress
Module 5: Performance Tuning and Query Optimisation - Analysing wait statistics and performance bottlenecks
- Using Query Store to capture and compare execution plans
- Identifying high-CPU, high-I/O, and long-running queries
- Optimising indexing strategies: clustered, non-clustered, filtered
- Creating covering indexes to eliminate key lookups
- Using missing index DMVs to guide index creation
- Monitoring index fragmentation and scheduling maintenance
- Implementing automatic tuning: index and plan recommendations
- Reviewing forced execution plans and plan regression risks
- Adjusting compatibility levels for query processor improvements
- Using query hints judiciously without over-optimisation
- Analysing parameter sniffing and plan cache issues
- Using OPTIMIZE FOR UNKNOWN and local variables when appropriate
- Scaling up versus scaling out for performance gains
- Benchmarking query improvements with real workload traces
Module 6: Automation, DevOps, and CI/CD Pipelines - Version controlling database schemas with SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT)
- Integrating Azure SQL with Git repositories and branching strategies
- Setting up Azure DevOps pipelines for automated deployments
- Using DACPACs and BACPACs for schema and data migration
- Validating deployment scripts with pre-deployment checks
- Automating drift detection between environments
- Implementing blue-green deployment patterns for zero downtime
- Using deployment slots for staging and production isolation
- Rolling back failed deployments using versioned backups
- Automating schema comparison and sync across tiers
- Seeding reference data safely across non-production instances
- Executing idempotent scripts to prevent duplication
- Enforcing code review gates before production deploy
- Integrating with SonarQube for SQL code quality analysis
- Monitoring deployment success with real-time dashboards
Module 7: Monitoring, Alerting, and Operational Excellence - Configuring Azure Monitor for SQL database metrics collection
- Tracking CPU, data IO, log IO, and storage utilisation
- Setting up custom alert rules for performance thresholds
- Using Log Analytics to query diagnostic logs at scale
- Creating workbooks for rich visual operational reporting
- Analysing wait stats and locking scenarios via DMVs
- Detecting blocking chains and long-held transactions
- Setting up email, SMS, and Teams notifications for critical alerts
- Integrating with Azure Action Groups for escalation workflows
- Using Smart Alerts to reduce false positives
- Applying Resource Health to diagnose platform issues
- Monitoring connection failures and authentication errors
- Tracking user activity for insider threat detection
- Enabling Threat Detection for anomalous database activity
- Scheduling regular health checks with automated runbooks
Module 8: Backup, Recovery, and Business Continuity - Understanding Azure SQL automated backup retention policies
- Configuring point-in-time restore (PITR) across regions
- Performing geo-restore from secondary replicas
- Testing recovery procedures with non-production environments
- Exporting databases to blob storage using BACPAC files
- Scheduling regular exports for audit and compliance
- Importing databases from on-premises or third-party systems
- Using Azure Automation to run backup health checks
- Validating data integrity after restore operations
- Implementing customer-managed TDE keys with key rotation
- Documenting RPO and RTO for stakeholder reporting
- Creating runbooks for emergency recovery scenarios
- Using Azure Site Recovery with SQL VMs when applicable
- Testing failover and failback procedures in staging
- Generating recovery time estimates based on database size
Module 9: Scalability, Elasticity, and Cost Management - Scaling compute and storage independently in vCore model
- Using auto-scaling based on performance thresholds
- Configuring elastic pools for mixed-workload consolidation
- Monitoring pool utilisation and redistributing databases
- Identifying underutilised instances for right-sizing
- Downsizing over-provisioned tiers without performance loss
- Applying reserved capacity for 3-year cost savings
- Using Azure Cost Management to track SQL spend by team
- Generating chargeback reports for internal billing
- Implementing tagging for department and project cost tracking
- Forecasting future spend based on growth trends
- Using Advisor recommendations for cost optimisation
- Identifying idle databases for archiving or deletion
- Archiving cold data to Azure Blob with external tables
- Implementing data tiering strategies for cost efficiency
Module 10: Advanced Analytics and Hybrid Integration - Integrating Azure SQL with Synapse Analytics for big data
- Using PolyBase to query external data sources
- Setting up linked servers to on-premises SQL instances
- Replicating data via transactional or snapshot replication
- Configuring Azure Data Sync for bi-directional sync
- Using Azure Data Factory for ETL pipelines to SQL DB
- Creating incremental load patterns with watermark tables
- Orchestrating complex data workflows with pipelines
- Loading JSON and XML data into relational structures
- Using OPENJSON and FOR JSON for semi-structured data
- Streaming data from Event Hub into Azure SQL
- Processing time-series data with windowing functions
- Integrating with Power BI for real-time dashboards
- Scheduling dataset refreshes securely via gateways
- Building semantic models with role-based security
Module 11: AI-Enhanced Operations and Intelligent Insights - Leveraging Azure SQL’s built-in AI for performance insights
- Interpreting Automatic Tuning recommendations with confidence
- Reviewing index creation and deletion suggestions
- Understanding forced plan correction events
- Using Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) features
- Applying batch mode on rowstore for faster queries
- Enabling memory grant feedback to reduce spills
- Using interleaved execution for multi-statement table functions
- Monitoring plan regression via Query Store alerts
- Applying adaptive joins based on row count variance
- Configuring automatic plan correction policies
- Setting up custom machine learning alerts with Azure ML
- Correlating performance data with business KPIs
- Using anomaly detection for proactive issue resolution
- Generating predictive capacity planning reports
Module 12: Enterprise Governance and Compliance Frameworks - Implementing Azure Blueprints for repeatable SQL deployments
- Using Policy as Code to enforce security standards
- Creating initiative definitions for regulatory compliance
- Assigning policies to management groups and subscriptions
- Auditing policy compliance across hundreds of databases
- Remediating non-compliant resources at scale
- Documenting data lineage for GDPR and CCPA requests
- Integrating with Microsoft Purview for data governance
- Classifying sensitive data using content inspection
- Automating data classification with labeling policies
- Enabling data loss prevention (DLP) for SQL endpoints
- Generating audit trails for access and modification events
- Preparing for external audits with compliance dashboards
- Mapping controls to NIST, CIS, and ISO frameworks
- Creating executive summary reports for board review
Module 13: Migration Strategies from On-Premises and Alternatives - Assessing on-premises SQL Server workloads for cloud fit
- Using Azure Migrate to evaluate database compatibility
- Identifying features unsupported in Azure SQL
- Refactoring legacy T-SQL code for cloud compatibility
- Planning phased migration: lift-and-shift versus re-architect
- Using DMA (Data Migration Assistant) for assessment reports
- Resolving blocking issues before migration kickoff
- Selecting migration tools: DMS, BACPAC, or native restore
- Running cutover during maintenance windows with minimal downtime
- Validating referential integrity post-migration
- Testing application connectivity and performance
- Handling identity and login mapping challenges
- Migrating SQL Agent jobs to Azure Automation
- Replacing linked servers with secure alternatives
- Conducting post-migration optimisation sweeps
Module 14: Real-World Implementation Projects - Project 1: Design and deploy a multi-tenant SaaS database architecture
- Project 2: Migrate a legacy ERP database to Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Project 3: Implement a geo-distributed reporting platform with read replicas
- Project 4: Build a compliance-ready database with full audit and masking
- Project 5: Automate schema deployment across dev, test, and prod environments
- Designing tenant isolation with row-level security and filtering
- Implementing dynamic data masking for customer service roles
- Creating cost allocation dashboards per business unit
- Setting up performance baseline and alerting thresholds
- Generating a runbook for disaster recovery execution
- Documenting architectural decisions in a shareable whitepaper
- Presenting technical design to non-technical stakeholders
- Receiving expert review of implementation artifacts
- Applying feedback to finalise enterprise-ready solutions
- Preparing deployment portfolio for professional presentation
Module 15: Certification Preparation and Career Advancement - Reviewing all core domains for enterprise competency mastery
- Practicing real-world troubleshooting scenarios
- Completing the final assessment with timed case studies
- Submitting implementation artifacts for evaluation
- Receiving personalised feedback on architectural choices
- Accessing the Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn, resumes, and professional profiles
- Drafting achievement statements for performance reviews
- Preparing for technical interviews with Azure SQL focus
- Using the certification to justify promotions or raises
- Gaining access to exclusive alumni templates and checklists
- Joining a network of certified enterprise data professionals
- Receiving updates on new course modules and features
- Enjoying lifetime access to all current and future content
- Continuing professional development with advanced resources
- Implementing zero-trust security for Azure SQL environments
- Configuring Azure Active Directory (AAD) integration for logins
- Migrating SQL authentication to AAD-based principals
- Setting up multifactor authentication (MFA) for admin access
- Using AAD groups for role-based permission management
- Enforcing conditional access policies for sensitive databases
- Creating custom database roles aligned with business functions
- Principle of least privilege: granular permission assignment
- Implementing row-level security (RLS) for data segmentation
- Applying dynamic data masking to protect PII and PCI data
- Deploying Always Encrypted with secure enclaves
- Configuring key vault integration for encryption key management
- Monitoring unauthorized access attempts via audit logs
- Automating security policy enforcement with Azure Policy
- Generating compliance reports for GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, and ISO
Module 4: Networking, Connectivity, and Isolation Strategies - Designing virtual networks (VNets) for secure SQL access
- Deploying Azure SQL in private subnets with no public endpoints
- Enabling private link for fully private database connectivity
- Configuring service endpoints to restrict traffic origins
- Setting up point-to-site and site-to-site VPNs for hybrid access
- Integrating with ExpressRoute for dedicated private connectivity
- Using firewall rules to control IP range access
- Automating firewall rule updates via CLI and PowerShell
- Configuring DNS settings for private endpoint resolution
- Securing application connections with connection pooling
- Implementing authentication token-based connection strings
- Hardening connection strings against credential exposure
- Using managed identities to eliminate stored credentials
- Validating end-to-end connectivity in multi-tier applications
- Testing failover and client retry logic under network stress
Module 5: Performance Tuning and Query Optimisation - Analysing wait statistics and performance bottlenecks
- Using Query Store to capture and compare execution plans
- Identifying high-CPU, high-I/O, and long-running queries
- Optimising indexing strategies: clustered, non-clustered, filtered
- Creating covering indexes to eliminate key lookups
- Using missing index DMVs to guide index creation
- Monitoring index fragmentation and scheduling maintenance
- Implementing automatic tuning: index and plan recommendations
- Reviewing forced execution plans and plan regression risks
- Adjusting compatibility levels for query processor improvements
- Using query hints judiciously without over-optimisation
- Analysing parameter sniffing and plan cache issues
- Using OPTIMIZE FOR UNKNOWN and local variables when appropriate
- Scaling up versus scaling out for performance gains
- Benchmarking query improvements with real workload traces
Module 6: Automation, DevOps, and CI/CD Pipelines - Version controlling database schemas with SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT)
- Integrating Azure SQL with Git repositories and branching strategies
- Setting up Azure DevOps pipelines for automated deployments
- Using DACPACs and BACPACs for schema and data migration
- Validating deployment scripts with pre-deployment checks
- Automating drift detection between environments
- Implementing blue-green deployment patterns for zero downtime
- Using deployment slots for staging and production isolation
- Rolling back failed deployments using versioned backups
- Automating schema comparison and sync across tiers
- Seeding reference data safely across non-production instances
- Executing idempotent scripts to prevent duplication
- Enforcing code review gates before production deploy
- Integrating with SonarQube for SQL code quality analysis
- Monitoring deployment success with real-time dashboards
Module 7: Monitoring, Alerting, and Operational Excellence - Configuring Azure Monitor for SQL database metrics collection
- Tracking CPU, data IO, log IO, and storage utilisation
- Setting up custom alert rules for performance thresholds
- Using Log Analytics to query diagnostic logs at scale
- Creating workbooks for rich visual operational reporting
- Analysing wait stats and locking scenarios via DMVs
- Detecting blocking chains and long-held transactions
- Setting up email, SMS, and Teams notifications for critical alerts
- Integrating with Azure Action Groups for escalation workflows
- Using Smart Alerts to reduce false positives
- Applying Resource Health to diagnose platform issues
- Monitoring connection failures and authentication errors
- Tracking user activity for insider threat detection
- Enabling Threat Detection for anomalous database activity
- Scheduling regular health checks with automated runbooks
Module 8: Backup, Recovery, and Business Continuity - Understanding Azure SQL automated backup retention policies
- Configuring point-in-time restore (PITR) across regions
- Performing geo-restore from secondary replicas
- Testing recovery procedures with non-production environments
- Exporting databases to blob storage using BACPAC files
- Scheduling regular exports for audit and compliance
- Importing databases from on-premises or third-party systems
- Using Azure Automation to run backup health checks
- Validating data integrity after restore operations
- Implementing customer-managed TDE keys with key rotation
- Documenting RPO and RTO for stakeholder reporting
- Creating runbooks for emergency recovery scenarios
- Using Azure Site Recovery with SQL VMs when applicable
- Testing failover and failback procedures in staging
- Generating recovery time estimates based on database size
Module 9: Scalability, Elasticity, and Cost Management - Scaling compute and storage independently in vCore model
- Using auto-scaling based on performance thresholds
- Configuring elastic pools for mixed-workload consolidation
- Monitoring pool utilisation and redistributing databases
- Identifying underutilised instances for right-sizing
- Downsizing over-provisioned tiers without performance loss
- Applying reserved capacity for 3-year cost savings
- Using Azure Cost Management to track SQL spend by team
- Generating chargeback reports for internal billing
- Implementing tagging for department and project cost tracking
- Forecasting future spend based on growth trends
- Using Advisor recommendations for cost optimisation
- Identifying idle databases for archiving or deletion
- Archiving cold data to Azure Blob with external tables
- Implementing data tiering strategies for cost efficiency
Module 10: Advanced Analytics and Hybrid Integration - Integrating Azure SQL with Synapse Analytics for big data
- Using PolyBase to query external data sources
- Setting up linked servers to on-premises SQL instances
- Replicating data via transactional or snapshot replication
- Configuring Azure Data Sync for bi-directional sync
- Using Azure Data Factory for ETL pipelines to SQL DB
- Creating incremental load patterns with watermark tables
- Orchestrating complex data workflows with pipelines
- Loading JSON and XML data into relational structures
- Using OPENJSON and FOR JSON for semi-structured data
- Streaming data from Event Hub into Azure SQL
- Processing time-series data with windowing functions
- Integrating with Power BI for real-time dashboards
- Scheduling dataset refreshes securely via gateways
- Building semantic models with role-based security
Module 11: AI-Enhanced Operations and Intelligent Insights - Leveraging Azure SQL’s built-in AI for performance insights
- Interpreting Automatic Tuning recommendations with confidence
- Reviewing index creation and deletion suggestions
- Understanding forced plan correction events
- Using Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) features
- Applying batch mode on rowstore for faster queries
- Enabling memory grant feedback to reduce spills
- Using interleaved execution for multi-statement table functions
- Monitoring plan regression via Query Store alerts
- Applying adaptive joins based on row count variance
- Configuring automatic plan correction policies
- Setting up custom machine learning alerts with Azure ML
- Correlating performance data with business KPIs
- Using anomaly detection for proactive issue resolution
- Generating predictive capacity planning reports
Module 12: Enterprise Governance and Compliance Frameworks - Implementing Azure Blueprints for repeatable SQL deployments
- Using Policy as Code to enforce security standards
- Creating initiative definitions for regulatory compliance
- Assigning policies to management groups and subscriptions
- Auditing policy compliance across hundreds of databases
- Remediating non-compliant resources at scale
- Documenting data lineage for GDPR and CCPA requests
- Integrating with Microsoft Purview for data governance
- Classifying sensitive data using content inspection
- Automating data classification with labeling policies
- Enabling data loss prevention (DLP) for SQL endpoints
- Generating audit trails for access and modification events
- Preparing for external audits with compliance dashboards
- Mapping controls to NIST, CIS, and ISO frameworks
- Creating executive summary reports for board review
Module 13: Migration Strategies from On-Premises and Alternatives - Assessing on-premises SQL Server workloads for cloud fit
- Using Azure Migrate to evaluate database compatibility
- Identifying features unsupported in Azure SQL
- Refactoring legacy T-SQL code for cloud compatibility
- Planning phased migration: lift-and-shift versus re-architect
- Using DMA (Data Migration Assistant) for assessment reports
- Resolving blocking issues before migration kickoff
- Selecting migration tools: DMS, BACPAC, or native restore
- Running cutover during maintenance windows with minimal downtime
- Validating referential integrity post-migration
- Testing application connectivity and performance
- Handling identity and login mapping challenges
- Migrating SQL Agent jobs to Azure Automation
- Replacing linked servers with secure alternatives
- Conducting post-migration optimisation sweeps
Module 14: Real-World Implementation Projects - Project 1: Design and deploy a multi-tenant SaaS database architecture
- Project 2: Migrate a legacy ERP database to Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Project 3: Implement a geo-distributed reporting platform with read replicas
- Project 4: Build a compliance-ready database with full audit and masking
- Project 5: Automate schema deployment across dev, test, and prod environments
- Designing tenant isolation with row-level security and filtering
- Implementing dynamic data masking for customer service roles
- Creating cost allocation dashboards per business unit
- Setting up performance baseline and alerting thresholds
- Generating a runbook for disaster recovery execution
- Documenting architectural decisions in a shareable whitepaper
- Presenting technical design to non-technical stakeholders
- Receiving expert review of implementation artifacts
- Applying feedback to finalise enterprise-ready solutions
- Preparing deployment portfolio for professional presentation
Module 15: Certification Preparation and Career Advancement - Reviewing all core domains for enterprise competency mastery
- Practicing real-world troubleshooting scenarios
- Completing the final assessment with timed case studies
- Submitting implementation artifacts for evaluation
- Receiving personalised feedback on architectural choices
- Accessing the Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn, resumes, and professional profiles
- Drafting achievement statements for performance reviews
- Preparing for technical interviews with Azure SQL focus
- Using the certification to justify promotions or raises
- Gaining access to exclusive alumni templates and checklists
- Joining a network of certified enterprise data professionals
- Receiving updates on new course modules and features
- Enjoying lifetime access to all current and future content
- Continuing professional development with advanced resources
- Analysing wait statistics and performance bottlenecks
- Using Query Store to capture and compare execution plans
- Identifying high-CPU, high-I/O, and long-running queries
- Optimising indexing strategies: clustered, non-clustered, filtered
- Creating covering indexes to eliminate key lookups
- Using missing index DMVs to guide index creation
- Monitoring index fragmentation and scheduling maintenance
- Implementing automatic tuning: index and plan recommendations
- Reviewing forced execution plans and plan regression risks
- Adjusting compatibility levels for query processor improvements
- Using query hints judiciously without over-optimisation
- Analysing parameter sniffing and plan cache issues
- Using OPTIMIZE FOR UNKNOWN and local variables when appropriate
- Scaling up versus scaling out for performance gains
- Benchmarking query improvements with real workload traces
Module 6: Automation, DevOps, and CI/CD Pipelines - Version controlling database schemas with SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT)
- Integrating Azure SQL with Git repositories and branching strategies
- Setting up Azure DevOps pipelines for automated deployments
- Using DACPACs and BACPACs for schema and data migration
- Validating deployment scripts with pre-deployment checks
- Automating drift detection between environments
- Implementing blue-green deployment patterns for zero downtime
- Using deployment slots for staging and production isolation
- Rolling back failed deployments using versioned backups
- Automating schema comparison and sync across tiers
- Seeding reference data safely across non-production instances
- Executing idempotent scripts to prevent duplication
- Enforcing code review gates before production deploy
- Integrating with SonarQube for SQL code quality analysis
- Monitoring deployment success with real-time dashboards
Module 7: Monitoring, Alerting, and Operational Excellence - Configuring Azure Monitor for SQL database metrics collection
- Tracking CPU, data IO, log IO, and storage utilisation
- Setting up custom alert rules for performance thresholds
- Using Log Analytics to query diagnostic logs at scale
- Creating workbooks for rich visual operational reporting
- Analysing wait stats and locking scenarios via DMVs
- Detecting blocking chains and long-held transactions
- Setting up email, SMS, and Teams notifications for critical alerts
- Integrating with Azure Action Groups for escalation workflows
- Using Smart Alerts to reduce false positives
- Applying Resource Health to diagnose platform issues
- Monitoring connection failures and authentication errors
- Tracking user activity for insider threat detection
- Enabling Threat Detection for anomalous database activity
- Scheduling regular health checks with automated runbooks
Module 8: Backup, Recovery, and Business Continuity - Understanding Azure SQL automated backup retention policies
- Configuring point-in-time restore (PITR) across regions
- Performing geo-restore from secondary replicas
- Testing recovery procedures with non-production environments
- Exporting databases to blob storage using BACPAC files
- Scheduling regular exports for audit and compliance
- Importing databases from on-premises or third-party systems
- Using Azure Automation to run backup health checks
- Validating data integrity after restore operations
- Implementing customer-managed TDE keys with key rotation
- Documenting RPO and RTO for stakeholder reporting
- Creating runbooks for emergency recovery scenarios
- Using Azure Site Recovery with SQL VMs when applicable
- Testing failover and failback procedures in staging
- Generating recovery time estimates based on database size
Module 9: Scalability, Elasticity, and Cost Management - Scaling compute and storage independently in vCore model
- Using auto-scaling based on performance thresholds
- Configuring elastic pools for mixed-workload consolidation
- Monitoring pool utilisation and redistributing databases
- Identifying underutilised instances for right-sizing
- Downsizing over-provisioned tiers without performance loss
- Applying reserved capacity for 3-year cost savings
- Using Azure Cost Management to track SQL spend by team
- Generating chargeback reports for internal billing
- Implementing tagging for department and project cost tracking
- Forecasting future spend based on growth trends
- Using Advisor recommendations for cost optimisation
- Identifying idle databases for archiving or deletion
- Archiving cold data to Azure Blob with external tables
- Implementing data tiering strategies for cost efficiency
Module 10: Advanced Analytics and Hybrid Integration - Integrating Azure SQL with Synapse Analytics for big data
- Using PolyBase to query external data sources
- Setting up linked servers to on-premises SQL instances
- Replicating data via transactional or snapshot replication
- Configuring Azure Data Sync for bi-directional sync
- Using Azure Data Factory for ETL pipelines to SQL DB
- Creating incremental load patterns with watermark tables
- Orchestrating complex data workflows with pipelines
- Loading JSON and XML data into relational structures
- Using OPENJSON and FOR JSON for semi-structured data
- Streaming data from Event Hub into Azure SQL
- Processing time-series data with windowing functions
- Integrating with Power BI for real-time dashboards
- Scheduling dataset refreshes securely via gateways
- Building semantic models with role-based security
Module 11: AI-Enhanced Operations and Intelligent Insights - Leveraging Azure SQL’s built-in AI for performance insights
- Interpreting Automatic Tuning recommendations with confidence
- Reviewing index creation and deletion suggestions
- Understanding forced plan correction events
- Using Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) features
- Applying batch mode on rowstore for faster queries
- Enabling memory grant feedback to reduce spills
- Using interleaved execution for multi-statement table functions
- Monitoring plan regression via Query Store alerts
- Applying adaptive joins based on row count variance
- Configuring automatic plan correction policies
- Setting up custom machine learning alerts with Azure ML
- Correlating performance data with business KPIs
- Using anomaly detection for proactive issue resolution
- Generating predictive capacity planning reports
Module 12: Enterprise Governance and Compliance Frameworks - Implementing Azure Blueprints for repeatable SQL deployments
- Using Policy as Code to enforce security standards
- Creating initiative definitions for regulatory compliance
- Assigning policies to management groups and subscriptions
- Auditing policy compliance across hundreds of databases
- Remediating non-compliant resources at scale
- Documenting data lineage for GDPR and CCPA requests
- Integrating with Microsoft Purview for data governance
- Classifying sensitive data using content inspection
- Automating data classification with labeling policies
- Enabling data loss prevention (DLP) for SQL endpoints
- Generating audit trails for access and modification events
- Preparing for external audits with compliance dashboards
- Mapping controls to NIST, CIS, and ISO frameworks
- Creating executive summary reports for board review
Module 13: Migration Strategies from On-Premises and Alternatives - Assessing on-premises SQL Server workloads for cloud fit
- Using Azure Migrate to evaluate database compatibility
- Identifying features unsupported in Azure SQL
- Refactoring legacy T-SQL code for cloud compatibility
- Planning phased migration: lift-and-shift versus re-architect
- Using DMA (Data Migration Assistant) for assessment reports
- Resolving blocking issues before migration kickoff
- Selecting migration tools: DMS, BACPAC, or native restore
- Running cutover during maintenance windows with minimal downtime
- Validating referential integrity post-migration
- Testing application connectivity and performance
- Handling identity and login mapping challenges
- Migrating SQL Agent jobs to Azure Automation
- Replacing linked servers with secure alternatives
- Conducting post-migration optimisation sweeps
Module 14: Real-World Implementation Projects - Project 1: Design and deploy a multi-tenant SaaS database architecture
- Project 2: Migrate a legacy ERP database to Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Project 3: Implement a geo-distributed reporting platform with read replicas
- Project 4: Build a compliance-ready database with full audit and masking
- Project 5: Automate schema deployment across dev, test, and prod environments
- Designing tenant isolation with row-level security and filtering
- Implementing dynamic data masking for customer service roles
- Creating cost allocation dashboards per business unit
- Setting up performance baseline and alerting thresholds
- Generating a runbook for disaster recovery execution
- Documenting architectural decisions in a shareable whitepaper
- Presenting technical design to non-technical stakeholders
- Receiving expert review of implementation artifacts
- Applying feedback to finalise enterprise-ready solutions
- Preparing deployment portfolio for professional presentation
Module 15: Certification Preparation and Career Advancement - Reviewing all core domains for enterprise competency mastery
- Practicing real-world troubleshooting scenarios
- Completing the final assessment with timed case studies
- Submitting implementation artifacts for evaluation
- Receiving personalised feedback on architectural choices
- Accessing the Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn, resumes, and professional profiles
- Drafting achievement statements for performance reviews
- Preparing for technical interviews with Azure SQL focus
- Using the certification to justify promotions or raises
- Gaining access to exclusive alumni templates and checklists
- Joining a network of certified enterprise data professionals
- Receiving updates on new course modules and features
- Enjoying lifetime access to all current and future content
- Continuing professional development with advanced resources
- Configuring Azure Monitor for SQL database metrics collection
- Tracking CPU, data IO, log IO, and storage utilisation
- Setting up custom alert rules for performance thresholds
- Using Log Analytics to query diagnostic logs at scale
- Creating workbooks for rich visual operational reporting
- Analysing wait stats and locking scenarios via DMVs
- Detecting blocking chains and long-held transactions
- Setting up email, SMS, and Teams notifications for critical alerts
- Integrating with Azure Action Groups for escalation workflows
- Using Smart Alerts to reduce false positives
- Applying Resource Health to diagnose platform issues
- Monitoring connection failures and authentication errors
- Tracking user activity for insider threat detection
- Enabling Threat Detection for anomalous database activity
- Scheduling regular health checks with automated runbooks
Module 8: Backup, Recovery, and Business Continuity - Understanding Azure SQL automated backup retention policies
- Configuring point-in-time restore (PITR) across regions
- Performing geo-restore from secondary replicas
- Testing recovery procedures with non-production environments
- Exporting databases to blob storage using BACPAC files
- Scheduling regular exports for audit and compliance
- Importing databases from on-premises or third-party systems
- Using Azure Automation to run backup health checks
- Validating data integrity after restore operations
- Implementing customer-managed TDE keys with key rotation
- Documenting RPO and RTO for stakeholder reporting
- Creating runbooks for emergency recovery scenarios
- Using Azure Site Recovery with SQL VMs when applicable
- Testing failover and failback procedures in staging
- Generating recovery time estimates based on database size
Module 9: Scalability, Elasticity, and Cost Management - Scaling compute and storage independently in vCore model
- Using auto-scaling based on performance thresholds
- Configuring elastic pools for mixed-workload consolidation
- Monitoring pool utilisation and redistributing databases
- Identifying underutilised instances for right-sizing
- Downsizing over-provisioned tiers without performance loss
- Applying reserved capacity for 3-year cost savings
- Using Azure Cost Management to track SQL spend by team
- Generating chargeback reports for internal billing
- Implementing tagging for department and project cost tracking
- Forecasting future spend based on growth trends
- Using Advisor recommendations for cost optimisation
- Identifying idle databases for archiving or deletion
- Archiving cold data to Azure Blob with external tables
- Implementing data tiering strategies for cost efficiency
Module 10: Advanced Analytics and Hybrid Integration - Integrating Azure SQL with Synapse Analytics for big data
- Using PolyBase to query external data sources
- Setting up linked servers to on-premises SQL instances
- Replicating data via transactional or snapshot replication
- Configuring Azure Data Sync for bi-directional sync
- Using Azure Data Factory for ETL pipelines to SQL DB
- Creating incremental load patterns with watermark tables
- Orchestrating complex data workflows with pipelines
- Loading JSON and XML data into relational structures
- Using OPENJSON and FOR JSON for semi-structured data
- Streaming data from Event Hub into Azure SQL
- Processing time-series data with windowing functions
- Integrating with Power BI for real-time dashboards
- Scheduling dataset refreshes securely via gateways
- Building semantic models with role-based security
Module 11: AI-Enhanced Operations and Intelligent Insights - Leveraging Azure SQL’s built-in AI for performance insights
- Interpreting Automatic Tuning recommendations with confidence
- Reviewing index creation and deletion suggestions
- Understanding forced plan correction events
- Using Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) features
- Applying batch mode on rowstore for faster queries
- Enabling memory grant feedback to reduce spills
- Using interleaved execution for multi-statement table functions
- Monitoring plan regression via Query Store alerts
- Applying adaptive joins based on row count variance
- Configuring automatic plan correction policies
- Setting up custom machine learning alerts with Azure ML
- Correlating performance data with business KPIs
- Using anomaly detection for proactive issue resolution
- Generating predictive capacity planning reports
Module 12: Enterprise Governance and Compliance Frameworks - Implementing Azure Blueprints for repeatable SQL deployments
- Using Policy as Code to enforce security standards
- Creating initiative definitions for regulatory compliance
- Assigning policies to management groups and subscriptions
- Auditing policy compliance across hundreds of databases
- Remediating non-compliant resources at scale
- Documenting data lineage for GDPR and CCPA requests
- Integrating with Microsoft Purview for data governance
- Classifying sensitive data using content inspection
- Automating data classification with labeling policies
- Enabling data loss prevention (DLP) for SQL endpoints
- Generating audit trails for access and modification events
- Preparing for external audits with compliance dashboards
- Mapping controls to NIST, CIS, and ISO frameworks
- Creating executive summary reports for board review
Module 13: Migration Strategies from On-Premises and Alternatives - Assessing on-premises SQL Server workloads for cloud fit
- Using Azure Migrate to evaluate database compatibility
- Identifying features unsupported in Azure SQL
- Refactoring legacy T-SQL code for cloud compatibility
- Planning phased migration: lift-and-shift versus re-architect
- Using DMA (Data Migration Assistant) for assessment reports
- Resolving blocking issues before migration kickoff
- Selecting migration tools: DMS, BACPAC, or native restore
- Running cutover during maintenance windows with minimal downtime
- Validating referential integrity post-migration
- Testing application connectivity and performance
- Handling identity and login mapping challenges
- Migrating SQL Agent jobs to Azure Automation
- Replacing linked servers with secure alternatives
- Conducting post-migration optimisation sweeps
Module 14: Real-World Implementation Projects - Project 1: Design and deploy a multi-tenant SaaS database architecture
- Project 2: Migrate a legacy ERP database to Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Project 3: Implement a geo-distributed reporting platform with read replicas
- Project 4: Build a compliance-ready database with full audit and masking
- Project 5: Automate schema deployment across dev, test, and prod environments
- Designing tenant isolation with row-level security and filtering
- Implementing dynamic data masking for customer service roles
- Creating cost allocation dashboards per business unit
- Setting up performance baseline and alerting thresholds
- Generating a runbook for disaster recovery execution
- Documenting architectural decisions in a shareable whitepaper
- Presenting technical design to non-technical stakeholders
- Receiving expert review of implementation artifacts
- Applying feedback to finalise enterprise-ready solutions
- Preparing deployment portfolio for professional presentation
Module 15: Certification Preparation and Career Advancement - Reviewing all core domains for enterprise competency mastery
- Practicing real-world troubleshooting scenarios
- Completing the final assessment with timed case studies
- Submitting implementation artifacts for evaluation
- Receiving personalised feedback on architectural choices
- Accessing the Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn, resumes, and professional profiles
- Drafting achievement statements for performance reviews
- Preparing for technical interviews with Azure SQL focus
- Using the certification to justify promotions or raises
- Gaining access to exclusive alumni templates and checklists
- Joining a network of certified enterprise data professionals
- Receiving updates on new course modules and features
- Enjoying lifetime access to all current and future content
- Continuing professional development with advanced resources
- Scaling compute and storage independently in vCore model
- Using auto-scaling based on performance thresholds
- Configuring elastic pools for mixed-workload consolidation
- Monitoring pool utilisation and redistributing databases
- Identifying underutilised instances for right-sizing
- Downsizing over-provisioned tiers without performance loss
- Applying reserved capacity for 3-year cost savings
- Using Azure Cost Management to track SQL spend by team
- Generating chargeback reports for internal billing
- Implementing tagging for department and project cost tracking
- Forecasting future spend based on growth trends
- Using Advisor recommendations for cost optimisation
- Identifying idle databases for archiving or deletion
- Archiving cold data to Azure Blob with external tables
- Implementing data tiering strategies for cost efficiency
Module 10: Advanced Analytics and Hybrid Integration - Integrating Azure SQL with Synapse Analytics for big data
- Using PolyBase to query external data sources
- Setting up linked servers to on-premises SQL instances
- Replicating data via transactional or snapshot replication
- Configuring Azure Data Sync for bi-directional sync
- Using Azure Data Factory for ETL pipelines to SQL DB
- Creating incremental load patterns with watermark tables
- Orchestrating complex data workflows with pipelines
- Loading JSON and XML data into relational structures
- Using OPENJSON and FOR JSON for semi-structured data
- Streaming data from Event Hub into Azure SQL
- Processing time-series data with windowing functions
- Integrating with Power BI for real-time dashboards
- Scheduling dataset refreshes securely via gateways
- Building semantic models with role-based security
Module 11: AI-Enhanced Operations and Intelligent Insights - Leveraging Azure SQL’s built-in AI for performance insights
- Interpreting Automatic Tuning recommendations with confidence
- Reviewing index creation and deletion suggestions
- Understanding forced plan correction events
- Using Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) features
- Applying batch mode on rowstore for faster queries
- Enabling memory grant feedback to reduce spills
- Using interleaved execution for multi-statement table functions
- Monitoring plan regression via Query Store alerts
- Applying adaptive joins based on row count variance
- Configuring automatic plan correction policies
- Setting up custom machine learning alerts with Azure ML
- Correlating performance data with business KPIs
- Using anomaly detection for proactive issue resolution
- Generating predictive capacity planning reports
Module 12: Enterprise Governance and Compliance Frameworks - Implementing Azure Blueprints for repeatable SQL deployments
- Using Policy as Code to enforce security standards
- Creating initiative definitions for regulatory compliance
- Assigning policies to management groups and subscriptions
- Auditing policy compliance across hundreds of databases
- Remediating non-compliant resources at scale
- Documenting data lineage for GDPR and CCPA requests
- Integrating with Microsoft Purview for data governance
- Classifying sensitive data using content inspection
- Automating data classification with labeling policies
- Enabling data loss prevention (DLP) for SQL endpoints
- Generating audit trails for access and modification events
- Preparing for external audits with compliance dashboards
- Mapping controls to NIST, CIS, and ISO frameworks
- Creating executive summary reports for board review
Module 13: Migration Strategies from On-Premises and Alternatives - Assessing on-premises SQL Server workloads for cloud fit
- Using Azure Migrate to evaluate database compatibility
- Identifying features unsupported in Azure SQL
- Refactoring legacy T-SQL code for cloud compatibility
- Planning phased migration: lift-and-shift versus re-architect
- Using DMA (Data Migration Assistant) for assessment reports
- Resolving blocking issues before migration kickoff
- Selecting migration tools: DMS, BACPAC, or native restore
- Running cutover during maintenance windows with minimal downtime
- Validating referential integrity post-migration
- Testing application connectivity and performance
- Handling identity and login mapping challenges
- Migrating SQL Agent jobs to Azure Automation
- Replacing linked servers with secure alternatives
- Conducting post-migration optimisation sweeps
Module 14: Real-World Implementation Projects - Project 1: Design and deploy a multi-tenant SaaS database architecture
- Project 2: Migrate a legacy ERP database to Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Project 3: Implement a geo-distributed reporting platform with read replicas
- Project 4: Build a compliance-ready database with full audit and masking
- Project 5: Automate schema deployment across dev, test, and prod environments
- Designing tenant isolation with row-level security and filtering
- Implementing dynamic data masking for customer service roles
- Creating cost allocation dashboards per business unit
- Setting up performance baseline and alerting thresholds
- Generating a runbook for disaster recovery execution
- Documenting architectural decisions in a shareable whitepaper
- Presenting technical design to non-technical stakeholders
- Receiving expert review of implementation artifacts
- Applying feedback to finalise enterprise-ready solutions
- Preparing deployment portfolio for professional presentation
Module 15: Certification Preparation and Career Advancement - Reviewing all core domains for enterprise competency mastery
- Practicing real-world troubleshooting scenarios
- Completing the final assessment with timed case studies
- Submitting implementation artifacts for evaluation
- Receiving personalised feedback on architectural choices
- Accessing the Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn, resumes, and professional profiles
- Drafting achievement statements for performance reviews
- Preparing for technical interviews with Azure SQL focus
- Using the certification to justify promotions or raises
- Gaining access to exclusive alumni templates and checklists
- Joining a network of certified enterprise data professionals
- Receiving updates on new course modules and features
- Enjoying lifetime access to all current and future content
- Continuing professional development with advanced resources
- Leveraging Azure SQL’s built-in AI for performance insights
- Interpreting Automatic Tuning recommendations with confidence
- Reviewing index creation and deletion suggestions
- Understanding forced plan correction events
- Using Intelligent Query Processing (IQP) features
- Applying batch mode on rowstore for faster queries
- Enabling memory grant feedback to reduce spills
- Using interleaved execution for multi-statement table functions
- Monitoring plan regression via Query Store alerts
- Applying adaptive joins based on row count variance
- Configuring automatic plan correction policies
- Setting up custom machine learning alerts with Azure ML
- Correlating performance data with business KPIs
- Using anomaly detection for proactive issue resolution
- Generating predictive capacity planning reports
Module 12: Enterprise Governance and Compliance Frameworks - Implementing Azure Blueprints for repeatable SQL deployments
- Using Policy as Code to enforce security standards
- Creating initiative definitions for regulatory compliance
- Assigning policies to management groups and subscriptions
- Auditing policy compliance across hundreds of databases
- Remediating non-compliant resources at scale
- Documenting data lineage for GDPR and CCPA requests
- Integrating with Microsoft Purview for data governance
- Classifying sensitive data using content inspection
- Automating data classification with labeling policies
- Enabling data loss prevention (DLP) for SQL endpoints
- Generating audit trails for access and modification events
- Preparing for external audits with compliance dashboards
- Mapping controls to NIST, CIS, and ISO frameworks
- Creating executive summary reports for board review
Module 13: Migration Strategies from On-Premises and Alternatives - Assessing on-premises SQL Server workloads for cloud fit
- Using Azure Migrate to evaluate database compatibility
- Identifying features unsupported in Azure SQL
- Refactoring legacy T-SQL code for cloud compatibility
- Planning phased migration: lift-and-shift versus re-architect
- Using DMA (Data Migration Assistant) for assessment reports
- Resolving blocking issues before migration kickoff
- Selecting migration tools: DMS, BACPAC, or native restore
- Running cutover during maintenance windows with minimal downtime
- Validating referential integrity post-migration
- Testing application connectivity and performance
- Handling identity and login mapping challenges
- Migrating SQL Agent jobs to Azure Automation
- Replacing linked servers with secure alternatives
- Conducting post-migration optimisation sweeps
Module 14: Real-World Implementation Projects - Project 1: Design and deploy a multi-tenant SaaS database architecture
- Project 2: Migrate a legacy ERP database to Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Project 3: Implement a geo-distributed reporting platform with read replicas
- Project 4: Build a compliance-ready database with full audit and masking
- Project 5: Automate schema deployment across dev, test, and prod environments
- Designing tenant isolation with row-level security and filtering
- Implementing dynamic data masking for customer service roles
- Creating cost allocation dashboards per business unit
- Setting up performance baseline and alerting thresholds
- Generating a runbook for disaster recovery execution
- Documenting architectural decisions in a shareable whitepaper
- Presenting technical design to non-technical stakeholders
- Receiving expert review of implementation artifacts
- Applying feedback to finalise enterprise-ready solutions
- Preparing deployment portfolio for professional presentation
Module 15: Certification Preparation and Career Advancement - Reviewing all core domains for enterprise competency mastery
- Practicing real-world troubleshooting scenarios
- Completing the final assessment with timed case studies
- Submitting implementation artifacts for evaluation
- Receiving personalised feedback on architectural choices
- Accessing the Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn, resumes, and professional profiles
- Drafting achievement statements for performance reviews
- Preparing for technical interviews with Azure SQL focus
- Using the certification to justify promotions or raises
- Gaining access to exclusive alumni templates and checklists
- Joining a network of certified enterprise data professionals
- Receiving updates on new course modules and features
- Enjoying lifetime access to all current and future content
- Continuing professional development with advanced resources
- Assessing on-premises SQL Server workloads for cloud fit
- Using Azure Migrate to evaluate database compatibility
- Identifying features unsupported in Azure SQL
- Refactoring legacy T-SQL code for cloud compatibility
- Planning phased migration: lift-and-shift versus re-architect
- Using DMA (Data Migration Assistant) for assessment reports
- Resolving blocking issues before migration kickoff
- Selecting migration tools: DMS, BACPAC, or native restore
- Running cutover during maintenance windows with minimal downtime
- Validating referential integrity post-migration
- Testing application connectivity and performance
- Handling identity and login mapping challenges
- Migrating SQL Agent jobs to Azure Automation
- Replacing linked servers with secure alternatives
- Conducting post-migration optimisation sweeps
Module 14: Real-World Implementation Projects - Project 1: Design and deploy a multi-tenant SaaS database architecture
- Project 2: Migrate a legacy ERP database to Azure SQL Managed Instance
- Project 3: Implement a geo-distributed reporting platform with read replicas
- Project 4: Build a compliance-ready database with full audit and masking
- Project 5: Automate schema deployment across dev, test, and prod environments
- Designing tenant isolation with row-level security and filtering
- Implementing dynamic data masking for customer service roles
- Creating cost allocation dashboards per business unit
- Setting up performance baseline and alerting thresholds
- Generating a runbook for disaster recovery execution
- Documenting architectural decisions in a shareable whitepaper
- Presenting technical design to non-technical stakeholders
- Receiving expert review of implementation artifacts
- Applying feedback to finalise enterprise-ready solutions
- Preparing deployment portfolio for professional presentation
Module 15: Certification Preparation and Career Advancement - Reviewing all core domains for enterprise competency mastery
- Practicing real-world troubleshooting scenarios
- Completing the final assessment with timed case studies
- Submitting implementation artifacts for evaluation
- Receiving personalised feedback on architectural choices
- Accessing the Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn, resumes, and professional profiles
- Drafting achievement statements for performance reviews
- Preparing for technical interviews with Azure SQL focus
- Using the certification to justify promotions or raises
- Gaining access to exclusive alumni templates and checklists
- Joining a network of certified enterprise data professionals
- Receiving updates on new course modules and features
- Enjoying lifetime access to all current and future content
- Continuing professional development with advanced resources
- Reviewing all core domains for enterprise competency mastery
- Practicing real-world troubleshooting scenarios
- Completing the final assessment with timed case studies
- Submitting implementation artifacts for evaluation
- Receiving personalised feedback on architectural choices
- Accessing the Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn, resumes, and professional profiles
- Drafting achievement statements for performance reviews
- Preparing for technical interviews with Azure SQL focus
- Using the certification to justify promotions or raises
- Gaining access to exclusive alumni templates and checklists
- Joining a network of certified enterprise data professionals
- Receiving updates on new course modules and features
- Enjoying lifetime access to all current and future content
- Continuing professional development with advanced resources