Updated: July 15, 2020 (November 2, 2015)

SQL Server and Business Intelligence Platform Overview

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

The next version of SQL Server will probably ship in the second quarter of 2016. SQL Server 2016, currently in preview, will deliver improvements for security, performance, change tracking, and other tasks. Future SQL Server releases will probably continue to alternate between releases focused on high availability and the core database engine and releases focused on other features, such as business intelligence, with gaps of two to three years in between.

SQL Server 2014 reached general availability on Apr. 1, 2014, and received SP1 in Apr. 2015, containing bug fixes and minor enhancements. The service pack should be applied by July 12, 2016, in order to continue receiving support. SQL Server 2012 now requires SP2 for continued support, SQL Server 2008 R2 now requires SP2 for continued support, and customers running SQL Server 2008 should have SP3 applied. SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 left Mainstream support on July 8, 2014, but received final service packs in Sept. 2014 that must be applied by Oct. 13, 2015, to continue receiving support.

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