While Microsoft sweeps the confetti off the floor of its Build event, it may be a good moment to reflect on what it didn't say as much as what it did. Taking the spotlight was AI agent Scout, ready to "understand how work gets done" and "take action without needing to be prompted." The software behemoth's leading database, SQL Server, barely got a mention. On its own, it may not be a big deal, but Microsoft watchers also noted that long-time SQL Server champion Rohan Kumar left the company in June, while Arun Ulag, president of Azure Data, currently holds the SQL Server remit. He's also responsible for the Fabric analytics and AI platform and a portfolio of open source database services. Taken together with the news that Microsoft's own terms and conditions allow customers to take SQL Server licenses to AWS's RDS database service without paying twice – thanks to a feature that lets them provide their own SQL Server installation media – the vibe around SQL Server has changed.
"I don't think it is a priority," said Andrew Snodgrass, research vice president of analyst company Directions on Microsoft. "With Kumar leaving, that's become very evident. I think the world of Ulag, but [SQL Server] is not where his focus is for the future. I'm afraid Microsoft are going to leave it languishing."
