SQL Server 2025 introduces native AI functionality that makes it possible to call AI services directly from T-SQL. The sp_invoke_external_rest_endpoint command allows you to integrate AI solutions like ChatGPT directly into the database, opening up new ways to work with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and advanced data analysis in a safe and efficient way.
With a new native vector data type and a native vector store and index using DiskANN technology, SQL Server 2025 will be able to handle large datasets more efficiently. This makes it easier to perform semantic searches and work with AI models directly in the database, which can reduce the need for external services.
The Fabric Mirroring feature allows OLTP data to be copied to Microsoft Fabric in near real-time, which can provide significant improvements in both data analysis and reporting. Instead of having to set up complex ETL processes to move data between systems, you can now work directly with up-to-date transactional data without delay.
SQL Server 2025 introduces support for regular expressions in T-SQL, making it easier and more efficient to work with complex text operations directly in the database. Developers can now perform advanced pattern recognition, filtering and data validation without the need for external functions or extensive workarounds. This reduces complexity and can improve performance in text-heavy databases.
Lock management in SQL Server 2025 has been improved with inspiration from Azure SQL Database, reducing latency and increasing performance for concurrent transactions. This is particularly valuable for databases with many concurrent users, where efficient resource management can have a noticeable effect on overall system performance.
It is now possible to create indexes based on JSON path expressions - a new feature that can provide a real boost in performance for queries that filter or sort on specific fields in JSON data.
With the integration of Microsoft Entra Managed Identities, SQL Server 2025 gets a more secure and flexible credential management system. It minimizes the need to manually manage sensitive access information while reducing potential security risks. It also improves compliance and auditing capabilities, making it easier to comply with security standards and legislation.
A new feature, optional parameter plan optimization (OPPO), allows SQL Server to choose an optimal execution plan based on runtime parameters. This can reduce issues associated with parameter sniffing and ensure more stable and predictable performance in complex queries.
One of the new enhancements in SQL Server 2025 is that statistics are now preserved on secondary replicas, even after a restart or failover. This ensures more stable performance and reduces the risk of sudden performance issues, as the database no longer needs to rebuild the statistics from scratch after a failover.
SQL Server 2025 offers a number of new features that make it easier to develop modern applications. With support for REST APIs, GraphQL integration via Data API Builder and improved JSON handling, developers have a more flexible and streamlined way to work with data. These improvements make it easier to integrate SQL Server into cloud and microservices architectures.
With these new features, SQL Server 2025 is more than just an update - it's a step towards a more intelligent, efficient and secure database platform. For organizations still running SQL Server 2019, an upgrade can mean better performance, simplified integration with AI and cloud services, and improved security.
Whether the focus is on optimizing operations, AI integration or data management, SQL Server 2025 brings the tools to help support the future of databases.