As the data world continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the recent SQL PASS Conference stood out as a premier gathering for database professionals. This year’s event united DBAs, engineers, analytics experts, and enthusiasts from across the country. Whether you’re a seasoned SQL pro or just eager to learn, the conference offered unparalleled opportunities to explore the latest in data, performance, and industry best practices. Below, several of our team members share their perspectives on key sessions, memorable moments, and the vibrant community that made the conference exceptional.
The strength of a conference like SQL PASS is its breadth - there were dozens of sessions across many tracks. It was tough to narrow down favorites, but here’s a sampling of some of the sessions our team found most valuable:
Maximizing SQL Server Performance with Read Committed Snapshot Isolation
Deep Dive into Memory Optimized TempDB
Building Event-Driven Architectures in Azure and Fabric
Extending the Fabric UI: Custom Visuals, Interactions, and Integrations
Break the Compliance Bottleneck - Automate Secure Test Data in 60 Minutes
Reign in the Chaos: Organizing Fabric Workspaces
“Attending SQL PASS was a phenomenal experience. The range of speakers and topics was astounding - I gained fresh insights from every session, whether it was a deep dive into performance tuning, high-level discussion on database architecture, or watching Anthony Nocentio build an LLM chatbot on a laptop. I also really enjoyed getting to listen to Bob Ward speak about SQL Server 2025. I've been learning from Bob for many years now, and getting to meet him and listen to him speak was an honor. SQL Server 2025 is exciting due to its continued focus on performance improvements, enhanced security features, and tighter integration with modern hybrid and cloud architectures. It was also great to connect with peers and share real-world challenges. The conference exceeded all my expectations.” Andrew C.
PASS 2025 brought together data professionals from all backgrounds to explore SQL performance and management, offering a unique opportunity to learn and grow with the tools we use every day. The conference focused on two key themes: embracing the tools of tomorrow and mastering the tools of today. I was excited to attend this conference with my coworkers to divide and conquer. Highlights included exciting updates in the brand-new SQL Server 2025 and SSMS 22 with the Microsoft team, alongside practical sessions on improving performance with Adam Mechanic, reducing locking with Haripriya Naidu, understanding deadlocks with Uwe Ricken, and exploring new features with Bob Ward. A big thank you to the other incredible presenters and community leaders I did not mention like Eric Darling, Erin Stellato, and Anthony Nocentino among others for sharing their expertise and making PASS 2025 an unforgettable experience. They walked so we could run, guided by their expert advice and detailed analysis that highlighted possible innovations, even when faced with limitations.~ Jackson
I always enjoy attending conferences because they allow me to see new stuff that I may not get the chance to experience in my daily tasks. I found great value in attending these sessions, especially the session on automated testing data. The tools covered in this session appeared extremely powerful in extracting existing data, removing sensitive information, and deploying it to a test environment for the development team's use, all within a single smooth deployment pipeline. The hardest part about these conferences is deciding which sessions to attend. There is always so much to learn from the community and the experiences they share. I, of course, also appreciated meeting up with my colleagues from Omnitech. It's nice to explore the city and have a nice meal together. ~ AJ
Immediate improvements: Based on what we have learned, especially regarding performance tuning and monitoring, we plan to review and optimize some of our existing database queries and indexing strategies.
Longer-term initiatives: With SQL Server 2025 now released, we’re taking a measured approach to adoption in client environments. Rather than pushing immediate upgrades, we’re evaluating SQL Server 2025 through testing and real-world workloads to understand performance, compatibility, and operational impacts. This allows us to confidently recommend when - and if - SQL Server 2025 is the right fit for a client, balancing new capabilities with stability and reliability.
Team impact: Attending together helped strengthen our shared knowledge base. We returned inspired and more aligned on how to approach upcoming projects, armed with knowledge from industry experts on SQL Server 2025.
If you’re considering whether a conference like SQL PASS is worth it - from our perspective: absolutely. It’s a high-value investment in learning, networking, and team growth.
