20 Sep 2023

Reading Microsoft Data & AI MeetUp

20th September, 6:00 PM
Coeo Office, NOW Building

Agenda
18:00 – 18:45 – Pizza and networking

18:45 – 19:35

Take Control of your Azure SQL Managed Instance Migration using the Log Replay Service
This session covers the Log Replay Service (LRS), a new free of charge Azure service for migrating databases to SQL managed instance. Learn when you would use it over existing migration methods, like the Data Migration Service (DMS), to solve some migration challenges. And I’ll show how I used it in a recent customer project to customise the migration of multi-terabyte databases to SQL managed instance using a combination of full, differential and log backups within a strict downtime window.

I’ll also introduce you to some features we implemented post-migration, like Intelligent Query Processing and Data Virtualization, that resulted in the huge improvements in batch processing times in SQL managed instance.

Rob Carrol
Principal Data Platform Consultant, Coeo

I’ve been working with SQL Server for over 20 years, firstly as a DBA and now as a consultant. I joined Coeo as a Consultant in 2021 providing advice and guidance to customers modernising their SQL Server platforms. I previously worked for Microsoft as a Premier Field Engineer (PFE) and as an independent database consultant, working across various sectors including Financial Services, Retail and Defence. When I’m not working with SQL Server, I’m a keen runner and enjoy spending time with my family.

19:35 – 19:45 – Bio Break

19:45 – 20:35

How Can Microsoft Fabric Have an Impact on Your Business?

All this talk about Data-Ware-Lake-Delta-Beach-House-Lakes (or some combination of that) and Data, Yarn, Fabric integration, everything has got a bit… Meshy! Yes, my friends. The beat of the technology drum is certainly relentless. And with no limits cloud scale and huge innovations from the biggest brains. Two years, it seems, has become the benchmark for tools to live and die by. Reach three years and you almost have a mature product. That said, Microsoft Fabric, the latest offering from global software giant is no exception. But what does this mean for the real world. For the data analysts, engineers and scientists that need to continue answering everyday problems to inform business decisions. In this session we will firmly ignore the hype and focus on the reality. With the pragmatic view of an experienced architect. The problem of gaining insights from our data hasn’t changed. So, what does this mean if implemented using Microsoft Fabric. What, why and how is the tooling going to change our daily deliverables in the short term, medium and long term. Join me for these answers and more as we explore the impact of Microsoft Fabric-Server, erm, Power. Resource. Thing!

Paul (AKA @mrpaulandrew) is the Founder & CTO of Cloud Formations, a specialist data consultancy based in the UK. With nearly 20 years’ experience designing and delivering Microsoft data architectures, Paul leads a passionate team of engineers, supporting businesses small and large with scalable cloud platforms. Business value delivered through data insights. Over the years, covering a breadth of design patterns and industry leading concepts, including Lambda, Kappa, Delta Lake, Data Mesh and Data Fabric.
Paul is also a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, director for the Data Relay conference, East Midlands user group leader, book author and mentor. In addition to the day job(s), Paul is a father of three, husband, foodie, runner, blood donor, geek, Lego, and Star Wars fan! Lastly, Paul confesses to enjoying a Ramstein playlist when given half a chance to do some coding for a customer project.

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