SQL Server 2022 builds on previous releases to grow SQL Server as a platform that gives you choices of development languages, data types, on-premises or cloud environments, and operating systems.

Microsoft announced SQL Server 2022 general availability on November 16, 2022, available for download for customers with SQL on Enterprise Agreement (EA), Enterprise Agreement Subscription (EAS), and Server and Cloud Enrollment (SCE) programs.

For other Microsoft volume license programs where Software Assurance (SA) is offered, such as Select Plus, Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA), and Open Value, you can purchase licensing today with SA to get new version rights to download SQL Server 2022 media on January 1, 2023. For license-only purchases (no SA) or for programs where SA is not offered, such as the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program, SQL Server 2022 will become available to purchase on January 1, 2023.

There are many new features with the release of SQL Server 2022, highlighted by fully managed disaster recovery in the cloud through Azure SQL Managed Instance where you can continuously replicate data to and from the cloud. Explore all of what’s new in SQL Server 2022, from new updates to additional video content.

With the release of SQL Server 2022, a new pay-as-you-go billing model is available through Azure. The consumption-based, cloud billing model is enabled by Azure Arc – meaning it will require a connection of SQL Server to Azure Arc as a prerequisite.

This new billing model will provide the flexibility to only pay for what you use without a need for a large upfront license investment. This PAYG model is not impacted by the January 2023 price increase.

The most recent major SQL Server release was version 2019, and as always, Microsoft keeps improving the SQL Server engine’s core with each new iteration.

Nowadays, virtually all SQL Server innovations begin in the Azure cloud before moving to the on-premises editions of the database server. But with this update, new features have been included that will boost the scalability and increase the skills of data professionals.

Feature highlights

The following sections identify features that are improved our introduced in SQL Server 2022:

• Analytics
• Avaliability
• Security
• Performance
• Query Store and intelligent query processing
• Management
• Platform

What is Microsoft SQL Server ?

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system developed by Microsoft. As a database server, it is a software product with the primary function of storing and retrieving data as requested by other software applications—which may run either on the same computer or on another computer across a network (including the Internet).

History of Microsoft SQL Server

The history of Microsoft SQL Server begins with the first Microsoft SQL Server product – SQL Server 1.0, a 16-bit server for the OS/2 operating system in 1989 – and extends to the current day.

The following versions are supported by Microsoft:

• SQL Server 2008
• SQL Server 2008 R2
• SQL Server 2012
• SQL Server 2014
• SQL Server 2016
• SQL Server 2019
• SQL Server 2022