Microsoft SQL Server Training

Lesson 1 • SQL Server Storage Architecture

Explains how SQL Server organizes data files, log files, and memory structures. Builds the mental model needed for performance and recovery topics later.

Lesson 2 • SQL Server Management Studio Essentials

Introduces SSMS as the primary administrative and development interface. Students navigate the Object Explorer, query editor, and key toolbars.

Lesson 3 • SQL Server Editions and Components

Covers the major SQL Server editions, core engine components, and service architecture. Provides context for all subsequent configuration and development decisions.

Lesson 1 • Relational Database Design Principles

Covers entity-relationship modeling, normalization forms, and key constraints. Provides the design foundation required before writing any schema DDL.

Lesson 2 • Creating and Managing Database Objects

Teaches DDL statements for databases, tables, and constraints. Students apply design principles by building schema objects in SQL Server.

Lesson 3 • Core SELECT Query Techniques

Introduces SELECT syntax, filtering, sorting, and column expressions. Forms the basis for all data retrieval work throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Joins and Set Operations

Explains INNER, OUTER, CROSS, and self-joins alongside UNION and EXCEPT. Students combine data from multiple tables to answer multi-entity questions.

Lesson 1 • Window Functions and Ranking

Introduces OVER clause, partitioning, ordering, and frame specification for analytic queries. Enables row-level calculations without collapsing result sets.

Lesson 2 • String, Date, and Conversion Functions

Covers built-in functions for text manipulation, date arithmetic, and type conversion. Prepares students to handle real-world data quality and formatting tasks.

Lesson 3 • Aggregation and Grouping

Teaches GROUP BY, HAVING, and aggregate functions for summarizing data. Builds directly on SELECT fundamentals to enable reporting queries.

Lesson 4 • Pivoting and Unpivoting Data

Teaches PIVOT and UNPIVOT operators and dynamic pivot techniques. Students transform row-based data into columnar reports and vice versa.

Lesson 1 • Stored Procedure Design and Usage

Covers CREATE PROCEDURE syntax, parameters, and execution patterns. Establishes stored procedures as the primary interface for application-database interaction.

Lesson 2 • User-Defined Functions

Explains scalar, inline table-valued, and multi-statement TVFs with performance implications. Students choose the right function type for each use case.

Lesson 3 • Triggers: DML and DDL

Covers AFTER and INSTEAD OF DML triggers and DDL triggers for schema auditing. Students implement automated responses to data and schema change events.

Lesson 1 • Index Types and Internal Structure

Explains clustered, non-clustered, covering, and filtered indexes and their B-tree structure. Provides the conceptual foundation for all indexing decisions.

Lesson 2 • Reading and Interpreting Execution Plans

Teaches how to read estimated and actual execution plans, operators, and cost percentages. Students identify the most expensive operations in a query plan.

Lesson 3 • Query Store and Performance Monitoring

Introduces Query Store for plan history tracking and regression detection. Students use built-in reports to identify and force stable execution plans.

Lesson 4 • Query Tuning Techniques

Applies SARGability rules, join order hints, and rewrite patterns to improve query speed. Connects execution plan analysis to concrete T-SQL changes.

Lesson 1 • Transaction Fundamentals

Covers ACID properties, explicit transaction syntax, and savepoints. Establishes the correctness guarantees that all subsequent concurrency topics depend on.

Lesson 2 • Deadlock Detection and Resolution

Teaches how SQL Server detects deadlocks, captures deadlock graphs, and strategies to eliminate them. Students redesign transactions to minimize deadlock risk.

Lesson 3 • Locking and Blocking

Explains lock types, lock escalation, and how blocking chains form. Students use DMVs to identify and resolve blocking in a live system.

Lesson 1 • Auditing and Data Masking

Introduces SQL Server Audit, Extended Events for security monitoring, and Dynamic Data Masking. Students build audit trails and mask sensitive columns for non-privileged users.

Lesson 2 • Authentication and Login Management

Covers Windows and SQL Server authentication modes, login creation, and password policies. Establishes the identity layer that all permission assignments depend on.

Lesson 3 • Data Encryption Techniques

Covers Transparent Data Encryption, column-level encryption, and Always Encrypted. Students protect data at rest and in transit against unauthorized access.

Lesson 1 • Backup Types and Recovery Models

Explains full, differential, and transaction log backups alongside the three recovery models. Students select the correct model and backup schedule for each workload.

Lesson 2 • Always On Availability Groups

Introduces AG architecture, replica roles, failover modes, and listener configuration. Students configure a basic AG to achieve automatic failover and readable secondaries.

Lesson 3 • Disaster Recovery Planning

Teaches RTO and RPO definition, DR runbook creation, and recovery testing procedures. Students translate business requirements into a documented, testable DR plan.

Lesson 4 • Restore Operations and Point-in-Time Recovery

Covers RESTORE DATABASE syntax, restore sequences, and point-in-time recovery using log backups. Students recover databases to specific moments after simulated failures.