Customers can try new features like Always Encrypted and the ability to extend data storage to the cloud



From V3:

SQL Server 2016 was announced earlier this month by Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella at the firm's Ignite conference, with the usual promises that it will deliver breakthrough performance for mission critical applications, plus deeper insights on customer data across on-premises and cloud.

The first public preview, known as Community Technology Preview (CTP2) for SQL Server 2016, is available to download from the TechNet Evaluation Centre, and Microsoft has also published an SQL Server 2016 Preview site offering information about the upcoming release.

  Microsoft delivers first public preview of SQL Server 2016