Introduction

This book contains three chapters to define and detail the objectives of the Microsoft
70-765 exam. The content contained in this publication covers what you should expect to see on the exam, but you should have a solid working knowledge of SQL Server and Azure skills. It is recommended to concentrate on one chapter at a time as you study the materials contained in this guide. At the end of each chapter you will find a thought experiment that you should complete. Complete the questions and review the answers for each experiment to test your knowledge of the subject material.

The exam reference series covers a high level of knowledge that you are expected to know in regards to the exam by covering why topics and “how to” processes with tasks allowing you to fully understand a topic and its use with the product in a working environment. The exam reference series makes the assumption you have some practical experience in the subject material through regular use of SQL Server, or possibly a previous version of the product. To be successful in taking the exam, you should be able to plan and architect Azure SQL Database, SQL Server in Azure IaaS, and SQL Server on-premises based solutions.

There are specific walkthroughs in different areas of the book, especially in new feature topic areas. There are numerous notes and links to external material so you can deep dive into additional subjects that will enable you to gain a more in depth understanding of features of SQL Server and allow you to obtain a better understanding of the subject material.

This book covers all of the objectives of the exam, however it may not cover every exam question. Only the Microsoft exam team knows the exam questions. Exam questions are regularly updated, so this book should be considered a supplement to real use experience of SQL Server, and not a complete comprehensive guide to every exam question. This edition of the book covers Azure and SQL Server as of mid-2017. As Azure SQL Database, SQL Server and Azure IaaS evolve, be sure to check the exam objectives to check for any changes or new version related information.

If you master the material in this book, coupled with the external links provided, and use the product to gain real world experience, you should have a recipe for success in your quest for Microsoft certification. Good luck on your goal!

Organization of this book

This book is organized by the “Skills measured” list published for the exam. The “Skills measured” list is available for each exam on the Microsoft Learning website: https://aka.ms/examlist. Each chapter in this book corresponds to a major topic area in the list, and the technical tasks in each topic area determine a chapter’s organization. If an exam covers six major topic areas, for example, the book will contain six chapters.

Microsoft certifications

Microsoft certifications distinguish you by proving your command of a broad set of skills and experience with current Microsoft products and technologies. The exams and corresponding certifications are developed to validate your mastery of critical competencies as you design and develop, or implement and support, solutions with Microsoft products and technologies both on-premises and in the cloud. Certification brings a variety of benefits to the individual and to employers and organizations.

Acknowledgments

Joseph D’Antoni I would like to thank my wife Kelly and my team at Denny Cherry and Associates consulting (Denny, John, Kerry, and Monica) for their help and patience with this project.

Scott Klein When writing the acknowledgments, I always struggle with who to list first because there are a handful of people that have played a huge role in this and they all deserve to be at the top of the list. However, having said that, I would like to thank Joey D’Antoni for making the initial connection and getting this whole thing started for me.

A very close second (and third) are the two individuals who not only brought me on board for this project but were also very patient while I jumped in; Trina MacDonald and Troy Mott. Thank you both for this opportunity.

Next comes the always amazing Tom LaRock, a good friend of mine who provided amazing and very appreciated technical feedback. Tom has reviewed a couple of my other books so when I heard he was the technical reviewer for this, there was an element of both excitement and “oh crap,” because I knew Tom would keep me honest, but at the same time he’d have a LOT of feedback, which I don’t mind at all.

Lastly, my family. Thank you for letting me disappear for a few weeks.

Microsoft Virtual Academy

Build your knowledge of Microsoft technologies with free expert-led online training from Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA). MVA offers a comprehensive library of videos, live events, and more to help you learn the latest technologies and prepare for certification exams. You’ll find what you need here:

https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com

Quick access to online references

Throughout this book are addresses to webpages that the author has recommended you visit for more information. Some of these addresses (also known as URLs) can be painstaking to type into a web browser, so we’ve compiled all of them into a single list that readers of the print edition can refer to while they read.

Download the list at https://aka.ms/exam765sqldatabases/downloads.

The URLs are organized by chapter and heading. Every time you come across a URL in the book, find the hyperlink in the list to go directly to the webpage.

Errata, updates, & book support

We’ve made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this book and its companion content. You can access updates to this book—in the form of a list of submitted errata and their related corrections—at:

https://aka.ms/exam765sqldatabases/errata

If you discover an error that is not already listed, please submit it to us at the same page.

If you need additional support, email Microsoft Press Book Support at
[email protected].

Please note that product support for Microsoft software and hardware is not offered through the previous addresses. For help with Microsoft software or hardware, go to
https://support.microsoft.com.

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