Functionality

Microsoft SQL Server provides automation of the following tasks: data retrieving, conversion and management; creation and storage of multidimensional data structures for dynamic reports; creation of per-setup reports.

Microsoft SQL Server components that are most frequently used for business analysis are listed below:

• Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio — database management environment;
• Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services — data integration services. They provide automation of data import/export, transformation and conversion;
• Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services — analytical services. They provide creation of analytical OLAP cubes for the purpose of a dynamic analysis;
• Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services — reporting services. They provide generation of predefined reports.

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio provide policy-based management of one or several server instances. The system includes the tools for performance control, thin setup, troubleshooting, as well as the tools to improve the efficiency of database management and Microsoft SQL Server instances.

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio is easy to scale to several servers; it helps to achieve the execution of single configuration policies throughout a company. The administrators possess the full system configuration and can setup in advance the required properties of data services.

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio monitoring tools help to track and to optimize the data services performance. The standard administrator reports that are included into Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio package retrieve the data about Microsoft SQL Server instances, databases and other objects.

Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 includes the integration platform for corporate data. This platform helps to manage the information collected from various sources. Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services are distinguished by their scalability, perfect extraction, conversion and import properties, as well as by their wide integration possibilities. Due to the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Integration Services intuitive environment for quick development it is possible to create the first-class solutions for integration of data of the entire enterprise.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Integration Services allow:

• сreate scenario tasks with the help of Microsoft Visual C# and Microsoft Visual Basic .NET;
• use ADO.NET for tasks as well as for source and end components;
• improve scalability by means of flow pools and search conversions;
• provide improved data transfer possibilities due to Microsoft SQL Server import and export masters.

Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services allow the creation of corporate complex analytical solutions. Due to the new DBMS scalability features it is now possible to build on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 the resource consuming analytical applications with millions of lines and thousands of users. UDM model satisfies any analytical needs from multidimensional analysis and report creation to forecasting analytics within the boundaries of one single solution.

Optimized interfaces of Microsoft SQL Analysis Services with Microsoft Office 2007 applications provide the business-users with the necessary data within their daily working environment and without additional efforts.

The new features of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services:

• quick solution development by means of the new cube designer;
• wide possibilities of modifications designer and the designer of statistical systems;
• ease creation of attribute relations via the new designer;
• the best projecting methods allow avoiding the most frequent errors;
• improved calculation methods optimize performance;
• quick processing of “what-if” scenarios via Write Back with support of MOLAP;
• improved data retrieving structures and improved time series support;
• monitoring of analytical solutions and their optimization due to Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services resource monitor.

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services is a complex server platform that provides enterprises with the full reporting cycle. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services platform helps to create thorough reports; it contains powerful visualization means and unique flexible projecting tools that meet the report generation requirements of any complexity. Any report generation workload can be easily managed and controlled by means of a reliable, centrally-launched and efficient reporting Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services environment of a company scale. Adjustable interactive reports with relevant data are sent dynamically to any work desk.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services platform provides the following new possibilities:

• report generation of any structure with the help of the “Tablix” unique data format;
• high performance and scalability for an unlimited number of users;
• report generation in Microsoft Word format;
• report generation with the use of formatted texts;
• graphical data representation with extended visualization possibilities.

Due to the integration of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server the enterprises can easily organize the centralized business-reports management. The reports can be published on Microsoft Office SharePoint Server web sites to create report indicator dashboards.

Back