Implement data change tracking

SQL Solutions in Microsoft Azure provide a robust platform for managing and analyzing data. To ensure data integrity and track changes, it is essential to implement data change tracking mechanisms. In this article, we will explore how to administer Microsoft Azure SQL Solutions effectively by implementing data change tracking.

What is Data Change Tracking?

Data change tracking allows monitoring the modifications made to a database, tracking the changes, and providing relevant information about them. It enables auditing and helps in meeting compliance requirements. With data change tracking, you can easily identify who made the changes, what changes were made, and when they occurred.

Enabling Change Tracking in Azure SQL Database

To enable change tracking in Azure SQL Database, follow these steps:

1. Connect to your Azure SQL Database using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or Azure Data Studio.

2. Execute the following T-SQL statement to enable change tracking on the database:

   ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName
SET CHANGE_TRACKING = ON
(CHANGE_RETENTION = 2 DAYS, AUTO_CLEANUP = ON)

   Here, YourDatabaseName refers to the name of your database. You can adjust the CHANGE_RETENTION period as per your requirements. The AUTO_CLEANUP option automatically deletes the change tracking information after the retention period.

Configuring Change Tracking on Tables

After enabling change tracking at the database level, you need to configure it for individual tables. To configure change tracking on a table, execute the following T-SQL statement:

ALTER TABLE YourTableName
ENABLE CHANGE_TRACKING
WITH (TRACK_COLUMNS_UPDATED = ON)

Replace YourTableName with the name of the table for which you want to enable change tracking. The TRACK_COLUMNS_UPDATED option tracks which columns were modified.

Querying Change Tracking Information

Once change tracking is enabled, you can retrieve the change tracking information using the CHANGETABLE function. The CHANGETABLE function returns a result set containing the changes made to a table.

For example, to get the changes made to the “Customers” table, you can execute the following query:

SELECT * FROM CHANGETABLE(CHANGES Customers, 0) AS CT

The 0 parameter specifies the version from which you want to retrieve changes. You can specify a valid version or use 0 to get all changes since the last time you queried.

Further Customization and Analysis

Azure SQL Solutions offer additional features to enhance data change tracking capabilities. You can explore options like Change Data Capture (CDC) and Temporal Tables to have a more comprehensive audit trail.

Change Data Capture (CDC) captures insert, update, and delete operations on monitored tables and provides a detailed log of changes. It allows you to track changes at the column level.

Temporal Tables provide an easy way to track changes over time. They allow accessing the history of data in a table, including the ability to query data as of a specific point in time.

Conclusion

Implementing data change tracking in Azure SQL Solutions is crucial for ensuring data integrity and compliance. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can enable change tracking at the database and table level. Additionally, you can use the CHANGETABLE function to query and analyze the tracked changes. Incorporating these practices will help you effectively administer your Microsoft Azure SQL Solutions and maintain a robust data change tracking mechanism.