What’s new in SQL Server 2025 CTP 2.1: Building momentum from public preview

Microsoft

Jun 17, 2025

During Microsoft Build, we announced the public preview of SQL Server 2025 (https://aka.ms/sqlserver2025), marking a significant advancement in our efforts to deliver an AI-ready enterprise database platform with superior security, performance, and availability. We are pleased to announce Community Technology Preview (CTP) 2.1.

This update builds on the momentum from #MSBuild and brings new features and enhancements designed to help customers unlock more value from their data, simplify operations, and strengthen security.

Efficient Vector Data & Indexing

Addressed few limitations from the Vector data type and functions for streamlined usage.
Improved Vector Index build performance significantly.
Transmit vectors efficiently in binary format to reduce payload size and enhance AI workload performance using the updated TDS protocol and updated drivers
Added sys.vector_indexes catalog view for querying vector indexes.
Creating a vector index no longer locks the table with SCH-M lock, allowing full read-access during indexing.

Embedding with Auto-Retry: The new enhancement introduces a built-in mechanism to automatically retry the embedding call if it fails due to temporary HTTP errors (like timeouts or service unavailability).

Secure by default: SQL Server 2025 to modernize and secure internal communications across all components. In this release we extended TDS 8.0 and Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 support for SQL Writer, PolyBase service and SQL CEIP our telemetry services.

What’s new in SQL Server 2025 security

Tempdb enhancements:

Tempdb space resource governance now supports percent-based limits. Resource governance can now be defined using percentage-based thresholds of the maximum tempdb space, making it easier to scale policies across different hardware configurations.

Immutable Storage for Azure Blob Backups

Backups to Azure Blob Storage now support immutable storage, which prevents tampering or deletion for a defined retention period—ideal for compliance and audit scenarios.

Max_message_size_kb Parameter Update

The sys.sp_create_event_group_stream stored procedure now includes an updated Max_message_size_kb parameter, allowing better control over event stream message sizes.

Automatic Plan Correction (APC) Behavioral Change

SQL Server now automatically detects plan regressions and applies FORCE_LAST_GOOD_PLAN to correct them.

The regression detection model previously enabled by Trace Flag 12618 is now on by default, making automatic tuning more proactive and effective without manual intervention.

SQL Server Enabled by Azure Arc – Overview

This release introduces native support for Azure Arc integration in SQL Server 2025 Preview. Azure Arc is a Microsoft service that allows you to manage on-premises, multi-cloud, and edge environments through the Azure control plane.

Consolidation of reporting services:

Beginning with SQL Server 2025, Microsoft will integrate all on-premises reporting services into Power BI Report Server (PBIRS). There will be no further releases of SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). PBIRS will serve as the default on-premises reporting solution for SQL Server.

For more information, see Reporting Services consolidation FAQ

Discontinued services:

Purview access policies (DevOps policies and data owner policies) are discontinued in this version of SQL Server. As an alternative to the policy actions provided by Purview policies, please use Fixed server roles. Refer our documentation for details on the specific server roles to use.

Get started
SQL Server 2025 is a major upgrade that unites databases and AI across on-premises and cloud. It supports existing apps and T-SQL with minimal changes, enabling organizations to scale, integrate with modern data platforms, and unlock new insights—while building on SQL Server’s trusted foundation.

Ready to try it out? Get started today: aka.ms/getsqlserver2025.

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