Microsoft is preparing to release a preview of a new version of its Azure SQL database before year-end which is aimed at simplifying the move of database applications to the cloud.



From All About Microsoft:

The coming version will include new SQL Server capabilities that will simplify extending and migrating database applications to the cloud, according to company officials who made the announcement at Microsoft's PASS (Professional Association for SQL Server) Summit 2014 on November 5.

The new Azure SQL release also will add support for larger databases with online indexing and parallel queries; improved T-SQL support with common language runtime and XML index; and monitoring and troubleshooting with extended events, officials said in a blog post about today's announcement.

  Microsoft preps preview of new version of its Azure SQL database-as-a-service