Microsoft SQL Server 2016, the next major release of Microsoft’s flagship database and analytics platform, provides breakthrough performance for mission critical applications and deeper insights on your data across on-premises and cloud.The first public preview, SQL Server 2016 Community Technology Preview (CTP) 2, is now available for you to download to trial via Microsoft Azure.

Try it today for an early look at these new capabilities:

 • Always Encrypted – helps protect data at rest and in motion

• Stretch Database – dynamically stretch your warm and cold transactional data to Microsoft Azure

• Real-time Operational Analytics – our in-memory technologies are enhanced to provide real-time analytics on
top of breakthrough transactional performance

Learn more about SQL Server 2016:  SQL Server 2016 Preview Page