I’m sitting in a session at PDC 09 on SQL Azure futures.  Here’s some notes for me and anyone else who cares.

Backups and Clones

• Backups are coming.  Can now(?) create a clone of a database.  Something like CREATE DATABASE fred AS CLONE OF bob.

Operations

• API for provisioning – useful for SaaS providers.  Great for Multi-tenant too.
• Better deployment and upgrades.
• Data Sync.
• Upgrade and downgrade options between db sizes  (1 & 10 GB).

Scale-Out

• Woa!  TicketDirect mentioned again!
• Dynamic database splits.  And merge back of course.
• Additional db size options. Maybe up to 50 GB.
• Multiple db connections.
• Fan out query for multiple db’s.

Other

• Support for profiler
• Full Text Search
• CLR
• BI

Sensitive Data - Codename Vidalia – woosh – this went over my head.