Features/ Advantages of SQL

•  Stored Procedures

The one main advantage of using SQL is the use of stored procedures. Stored procedures are lines of code
that are called by the application. They are placed on the server, and they are pre-compiled for quicker
response times. Stored procedures require the knowledge of SQL Server syntax, which is called T-SQL
(transaction SQL). The use of stored procedures also centralizes code, so troubleshooting bad database
requests can be observed by a database administrator.

•  Scalability

The term scalability is used to describe the ability to grow when the business becomes bigger. When
businesses grow quickly, a small database application like Access can be a bottleneck for a website or
desktop software. Microsoft SQL Server is quick for large and small businesses, so as the business grows,
the SQL Server can handle the new volume of database requests. SQL Server can handle millions of records
and transactions.

•  Security

Security is a major issue for any site. SQL Server allows the administrator to grant access or deny access for
users. The SQL Server has a specific section of the application where users are added to the permissions.
SQL Server allows administrators to specify which tables and stored procedures users are able to access and
query. This limits what records and user information can be queried, which protects the business's customer
information.

• Transaction Logs

Transaction logs are objects on the SQL Server that record the retrieval, update and deletion of records.
There are two reasons to keep transaction logs. The first is for rollback procedures. This process is used for
accidental updates or deletions. The administrator can return records back to the original data by using
transaction logs. Secondly, the transaction logs can be used for security purposes. If the administrator
suspects a breach of security, he can watch the transaction logs for any type of data retrieval and identify the
severity of the breach.

• Automatic Backup

SQL Server has an automatic backup option. The SQL Server automatically saves a copy of the database
and the transaction logs on another hard drive or media like a CD-ROM or a DVD. Small applications like
Access do not have this option, and backups are an integral part of disaster recovery. SQL Server also has
procedures that allow the administrator to quickly restore a database when data is lost or corrupted, or the
server has a hard drive crash.