In the latest episode of the Microsoft Playbook, Senior Director of Legacy Sales Johnny Lopez sat down to discuss one of the most anticipated releases in the data management world, SQL Server 2025. With promises of built-in AI, enhanced security, and more innovative management tools, this release is shaping up to be a significant step forward for organizations of all sizes.
The Evolution of SQL Server
Over the past decade, the database landscape has undergone significant changes. What was once the domain of large enterprises is now a necessity for small businesses too.
As Lopez points out, “Whether you’re a big enterprise or a small mom-and-pop shop, SQL Server has become a standard part of operations.”
With the release of SQL Server 2025, Microsoft continues that evolution, making enterprise-grade data tools more powerful and more accessible than ever.
Upgrading to SQL Server 2025: What to Expect
Upgrading constantly raises questions, especially for IT teams managing complex environments. The good news, Lopez says, is that the upgrade process is often straightforward, especially if you’re coming from SQL Server 2019 or SQL Server 2022.
“It might be as simple as backing up your environment, upgrading, running a few tests, and going live,” Lopez explains.
However, older environments, such as those still running SQL Server 2014 or 2016, may face additional steps due to deprecated services and outdated compliance features. In such cases, a more comprehensive rebuild may be necessary. The bottom line is that each migration should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure a smooth and secure transition.
Built-in AI and Smarter Performance
Perhaps the most talked-about addition to SQL Server 2025 is its integrated AI capabilities. Microsoft is embedding AI directly into the database engine, enabling semantic search and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) natively. This integration unlocks new possibilities for organizations seeking to develop AI- or machine learning-driven applications without the need for complex external pipelines.
“Building AI within SQL will remove a lot of barriers and simplify the architecture,” says Lopez.
In short, SQL Server 2025 isn’t just a database; it’s becoming an intelligent data platform.
Security Takes Center Stage
As data breaches continue to make headlines, Microsoft has doubled down on its security efforts. The new release features deeper integration with Azure Arc, bringing advanced identity authentication, compliance management, and audit capabilities.
“Whether your environment is on-prem, private, or public cloud, security is top of mind,” Lopez emphasizes. “The new authentication and compliance tools make auditing and securing databases much easier.”
These features reflect a clear priority: protecting data wherever it lives.
Smarter Management with Copilot
Another exciting enhancement is the introduction of Microsoft Copilot for SQL Server. This AI assistant provides real-time recommendations for database management, performance optimization, and security configuration.
“Copilot gives you best practices for upgrading or securing your environment,” Lopez says. “It’s like having a built-in SQL expert guiding your setup.”
This means database engineers can spend less time troubleshooting and more time innovating. The Ongoing Challenge: Licensing Models Even with all these new capabilities, one challenge remains: licensing. SQL Server has long offered multiple models (core-based, CAL-based, cloud, and on-premise), and choosing the right one can be daunting.
“Licensing will always be one of the biggest challenges,” Lopez admits. “It’s about knowing what version and model best fit your environment.”
He emphasizes the importance of consulting licensing experts, such as those at TrustedTech, to ensure compliance and avoid unnecessary costs. Over-licensing can result in thousands of dollars being wasted, while under-licensing can expose organizations to audit risks.
Final Thoughts
SQL Server 2025 represents a major step forward in Microsoft’s data platform journey. With AI-driven insights, advanced security, and intelligent management tools, it’s designed to help organizations modernize efficiently and securely.
As Lopez puts it: “Technology keeps evolving and SQL Server 2025 is making sure your database evolves with it.”
