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Factoring impact of SQL Secure Login Certificate Key Length on SQL Performance
In this post, Application Development Managers, Lou Sawyer and Everett Yang spotlight the performance impact of certificate key length for login operations with SQL Server. The effect of RSA Key Length on CPU utilization during decryption is well documented. With a larger key size, we expect higher CPU utilization during decryption. This is a factor we must consider when balancing security requirements and capacity planning. In the context of SQL Server, we can configure SQL Server to require encryption for connections or the SQL client can request encryption when establishing connection. Not as well do...
Discovering AuthorizeAttribute role names
In this post, Senior Consultant, Marius Rochon showcases how to discover 'AuthorizeAttribute' role names. The AuthorizeAttribute is used in ASP.NET code to decorate controller classes and methods which require authorization, e.g. [Authorize(Roles =“admin”)] public class HomeController : Controller { Meaning that to call any method in this class, the user needs to have a role claim with the value ‘admin’. With many controllers and methods the number of roles used and their assignment to methods may become an administrative issue. It may not be easily discoverable what is the complete list of roles the appl...
With Azure, Certifications are hot again!
Senior Application Development Managers, Justin Wendlandt and Doug Owens reflect on Microsoft Certifications and why now is a great time to consider updating yours Microsoft Certifications have been around since 1992. They provided IT Professionals with the ability to prove themselves and their understanding of the technology stack to which the certification was directed. Additionally, it was a way for Microsoft to recognize those individuals who understand the technology well enough to demonstrate an ability to learn and grow in that technology stack. The preparation methods for these exams were primarily exp...
Introduction to PSfP support for EAS licensees
Senior Application Development Managers, David Huang and Sheldon Ledbetter spotlight support options for EAS licensees Exchange ActiveSync, also known as EAS, is a development protocol requiring purchase of Microsoft Licenses. Almost all major mobile device manufacturers who use Microsoft EAS API to develop their email, calendar, and messaging applications to interact with Exchange Servers need licenses from Microsoft. We refer to these Original Device Manufacturers as the “EAS Licensees”. Frequently, these partnerships benefit from a deep support relationship our customers often establish through Premier. I...
Roslyn Analyzer Deltas for VS2017 RC3
In this post, Senior Consultant, Joe Healy showcases Roslyn tools in VS2015. One of my favorite features in VS2015 is the Roslyn based live static code analyzers. Interactive IDE feedback on my code gives me ‘opportunities for improvement’ to my code. Think FxCop++ without having to build your project. I like to say “in your face” developer education. See “bad things” and fix them before some other developer makes fun of you! For those not familiar with Roslyn Analyzers I will suggest you view Falafel’s blog post on the topic at https://blog.falafel.com/live-code-analysis-day-20-visual-studio-2015/ . He...
A common execution path optimization
Today I want to talk about one interesting optimization pattern that you may face in framework code or in high-performance libraries. The idea is simple: suppose you have a commonly used method that has two execution paths – one is very common and simple, and the second one takes longer to execute, has more steps but happens not that often. As an example, let’s consider a List<T>.Add method. On the “happy-path” Add method is very simple and efficient: if there is enough space it adds an item to an internal array. But if the internal array is full, Add method resizes the underlying array (by allocating...
When using SharePoint, don’t use $
In the latest post on his blog, Senior Premier Developer Consultant Brian Gregor discusses an error when using Distributed Cache PowerShell cmdlets with a user account that includes a $ in the name. https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/briangre/2017/01/24/when-using-sharepoint-dont-use/
Microsoft Graph – Consolidating multiple APIs into one
Paul King, Senior Application Development Manager, introduces Microsoft Graph API as the unifying endpoint for many APIs As Microsoft’s cloud services has evolved, so have the APIs used to reference them. When Microsoft first offered cloud services like Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive and others, and API to access that service was launched too. There would be little use for a cloud service if developers could not access the content. This brought us to a huge list of new SDK’s and REST endpoints to service each of these individual technologies as they were released. Each of these endpoints required A...
Investing In Improvement
In this post, Principal Application Development Manager, Larry Duff asks “How will you identify your normalized deviances and invest in improvement?” I've been following a recent blog about the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy and was struck by a phrase in a recent entry, "normalization of deviance." They were describing a piece of foam falling off the external tank and striking the orbiter as being acceptable because it happened before with no consequences. This was eerily familiar to Challenger where burn through on the Solid Rocket Booster O-rings had become acceptable. In both cases they had tr...