SSMS is the most common tool used by SQL Developers or DBA’s but unfortunately there are some features that are barely known, SQLCMD mode is not the exception and that’s why I decided to follow up in this topic.
You may want to check one of this previous blog post, where you will find instructions how to enable SQLCMD mode and some examples that could help you to become familiar with it.
Have you ever imagine you can determine the version of SQL Server from a bak or a MDF file? I have been in situations where I received a bak or MDF and LDF files from a vendor to restore \ create a database for the implementation of a new application, most of the times I receive complete detail of the supported versions of SQL Server by the product but what happens if I don’t get that information?
SQL Server offers a way to get the actual version where the files were created, let’s review the process to using a database restore.
In my previous blog post of this topic, I talked about the definition of what GDPR is and also described the first two phases of Microsoft’s recommended workflow in order to be in compliance with this data regulation.
The Discovery and Manage phase was about discovering where the sensitive data was located and how it can be accessed also to create access controls to the system in compliance of the “least privilege” principle enabling only authorized access to the database system and data.