SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 18.0 released for general availability
This release natively respects . Object Explorer grids, properties panels, and diagram components map correctly across screens with different scaling densities, preventing the blurry interface bugs common in older versions. Core Security Advancements Always Encrypted with Secure Enclaves
: A new security feature allows you to mask sensitive data in a non-production copy of your database.
Perhaps the most significant security enhancement was support for . This technology takes client-side encryption to an entirely new level by enabling computations on encrypted data without ever decrypting it within the database engine—a breakthrough for organizations handling regulated data like healthcare records or financial information.
: You can now launch Azure Data Studio directly from the SSMS Tools menu or Object Explorer to use features like Jupyter-compatible SQL Notebooks.