AI for SQL Server
Practical course in which you learn to apply the AI capabilities in and around SQL Server: Copilot in SSMS, Azure OpenAI in T-SQL and vector search in SQL Server 2022.
NRTO quality mark
Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so feel free to book now.
In brief. AI for SQL Server is a 1-day classroom course. You can attend it in Amsterdam and The Hague, in a group of no more than 8 participants. The price is € 725,- excl. VAT per participant, including course materials, lunch on site and a certificate of attendance. For a team or department we also deliver this course in-company.
- Hands-on with Copilot in SSMS and Azure OpenAI
- Working test environment with SQL Server 2022 and OpenAI endpoint
- Small group of no more than 6 participants
- A complete AI use case as the end result
- Attention to security, prompt injection and audit trails
Copilot in SSMS, Azure OpenAI in T-SQL and vector search in SQL Server 2022: the AI options around your database have matured in a short space of time. In this course you apply these techniques to your own data and build a complete AI layer on top of an existing SQL Server.
Description
SQL Server has gained a substantial set of AI capabilities. Copilot in SSMS (preview) generates queries based on natural language, explains existing T-SQL and suggests indexes and query rewrites. In this course you learn to put those features to genuinely productive use, not as a toy but as a day-to-day working environment.
You also connect Azure OpenAI to your database. From T-SQL you call an endpoint, use Machine Learning Services for R and Python and work with the new vector data types in SQL Server 2022. Storing embeddings, running similarity searches and combining results with classic SQL: it is all covered.
You practise in a Learnit test environment with SQL Server 2022 and a connected Azure OpenAI endpoint. That way you work with real data and real AI calls, without first having to set up your own infrastructure.
To finish, you build a complete use case: classifying customer tickets, determining sentiment on text fields and making documents searchable with vector search. Security has a fixed place in this, from preventing prompt injection to shielding data outflow.
Topics
- Copilot in SQL Server Management Studio (preview): generating queries in natural language
- Having existing T-SQL explained and complex queries described
- Optimisation suggestions: index recommendations and query rewriting via Copilot
- Asking schema questions: having tables, columns and relationships found for you
- Deciphering error messages with help from Copilot
- Connecting Azure OpenAI to SQL Server: configuring the endpoint and calling it from T-SQL
- SQL Server Machine Learning Services: R and Python within SQL
- Vector search in SQL Server 2022: storing and searching embeddings
- Practical applications: document search, customer segmentation and sentiment analysis on text fields
- Building a complete use case: combining SQL data with AI classification for customer tickets
- Security: preventing prompt injection and shielding against data leakage
- Setting up audit trails for AI calls from SQL Server
Result
After this course you will work productively with the AI capabilities in and around SQL Server. You use Copilot in SSMS as a fully fledged working partner, connect Azure OpenAI to your database and add vector search to existing tables.
Specifically, by the end you will be able to:
- Using Copilot in SSMS to generate queries, have T-SQL explained and request optimisation suggestions
- Resolving error messages and schema questions efficiently with help from Copilot
- Configuring an Azure OpenAI endpoint and calling it from T-SQL
- Using Machine Learning Services to run Python or R within SQL Server
- Storing embeddings in SQL Server 2022 and running vector search on text and documents
- Classifying customer tickets, determining sentiment and making documents searchable
- Recognising and preventing prompt injection, shielding against data leakage
- Setting up audit trails for AI calls so that you remain demonstrably in control
Target audience
The course is aimed at experienced SQL Server professionals who want to add the new AI capabilities to their toolkit. You work with SSMS and T-SQL on a daily basis and want to know how to apply Copilot, Azure OpenAI and vector search to your own databases.
The course is intended for:
- SQL Server database administrators (DBAs) who want to increase their productivity with Copilot
- Data engineers who want to add AI functions to their ETL and data platform
- BI developers who want to carry out sentiment analysis or classification on text fields
- Application developers who use SQL Server as a backend and want to integrate AI features
- Data architects who want to work strategically with AI functions in SQL Server
Teaching method
The course is entirely hands-on and technical in design. You work in a Learnit test environment with SQL Server 2022 and a connected Azure OpenAI endpoint, so you can get started straight away with real data and real AI functions. Short explanations alternate with practical assignments in which you build your own queries, embeddings and classifications.
Because of the technical depth, we work in small groups of no more than 6 participants. This gives you room for your own questions and personal guidance from the trainer, including on points that are specific to your database environment.
You receive a workbook with a dataset and step-by-step plan, a reference document with code examples and a certificate of participation. By the end you will have delivered a working AI use case, including vector search and classification on customer tickets.
Prior knowledge
You have solid T-SQL skills, gained in our SQL Advanced course or through equivalent practical experience. You are comfortable working with SQL Server Management Studio and know the basics of relational databases. Prior knowledge of Azure or OpenAI is not required; we cover those from the ground up. Experience with Python is an advantage, not a requirement.
Comments
You work on a Learnit laptop with SQL Server 2022 and a connected Azure OpenAI endpoint. Bring your own laptop if you prefer, but this is not necessary.
Practical information
- Number of days
- 1 day
- Course times
- from 10 am to 5 pm
- Teaching hours
- 6 hours
- Education level
- Suitable for all levels
- Preparation time
- None
- Included
- Course materials and lunch on site
- Certificate
- At the end of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance
- Cancel
- Free up to four weeks before the start (cancellation terms)
Language
The course is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer speaks English. English-language course materials can be used. If at least 3 participants register, the course can also be given entirely in English.
In-company
Would you like to organise this training for a whole group or several groups? This can be cost-effective. For example, we can tailor the content entirely to your organisation, and training a whole group is also cheaper.
Are you looking at large numbers of participants or a complete academy? That involves a great deal. Consider planning and communication, for example, or identifying and agreeing the objectives and content of the training. Or differences in level, feedback mechanisms and safeguarding. Fortunately, Learnit has extensive experience in this field (more than 25 years) and we are happy to help you through this process.
All start dates
1 training day. In order of date.
- Thu 4 February 2027 Amsterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 7 January Enrol
- Tue 27 July 2027 The Hague · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 29 June Enrol
No suitable start date? Send us a date request, and we'll look at the options together.
This course for your team?
Plan your own group on a date that suits you, at your office, at our premises or online. We tailor the content to your day-to-day work, and training a whole group is cheaper than individual bookings.
- Your date and location
- Tailored content
- Multiple groups or an academy are also possible
- More than 25 years' experience
What others say about this course
“The content met my expectations. Gaining basic SQL knowledge. The trainer was very knowledgeable and also gave plenty of good tips.”
“I have no experience at all with SQL. But the course was explained at a steady pace, so you could master the material. I would recommend it for beginners.”
“The trainer sets a good pace for beginners, keeps your attention and is extremely clear in the way he communicates. As a result you remember everything better and stay motivated!”
“The course is interactive. Within two days you have a clear picture of the possibilities of SQL”
“Excellent course, easy to follow. The content met my expectations. The knowledge was conveyed in a very pleasant way.”
“Enjoyable and instructive course with a good mix of theory and practice. The trainer presented it in a relaxed way and with humour, which made it all the more pleasant. Everything was well organised and I was able to apply what I had learned straight away!”
“Useful course for learning SQL quickly.”
"Recommended! An enjoyable, informal way to broaden your knowledge."
“Very practical training course. Clear explanations and plenty of relevant exercises.”
“An SQL course that anyone without any programming experience can follow, through a piece of theory followed by exercises. In small groups, which allows for personal interaction with the trainer.”
"Colleagues were impressed by how much I already knew after a 2-day course."
“A solid basic course that gives you a very good start in discovering SQL.”
“A good course for learning the basic principles of SQL. Plenty of practical exercises, so you get to grips with SQL quickly. It was led by a good trainer who took the time to explain things. Teaches with enthusiasm. A sociable and friendly person. Learnit Training is a professional organisation, customer-focused and with good, fast service.”
“Excellent course if you want to learn SQL thoroughly and in a structured way. With plenty of practical exercises. The content of the course was excellent: clearly organised, good course material including practice assignments, a good balance between theory and practical exercises. The trainer's knowledge is good, as is the way he explains and conveys the material. He places a strong emphasis on building knowledge in a structured and solid way, rather than on quick results. He responded well to questions.”
“The SQL course provides insight into creating queries from databases. During the lessons you learn how a query is constructed. Each lesson starts with the theory, which you then put into practice with a hands-on assignment. This is both enjoyable and instructive.”
“The course has given me enough tools to get started with SQL. You gain the experience in practice, but this course gives you enough firm ground under your feet.”
“Useful in the organisation where I work”
“A course with a good pace. Pleasant alternation between plenary treatment of the material and doing individual exercises. Excellent value for money if you want to start working with SQL in practice.”
“My first introduction to SQL in this SQL Basics course. Good, clear explanation of the material. Plenty of exercises to put the material into practice straight away, and an enthusiastic trainer make this course a recommendation for anyone who wants to know more about SQL.”
“Well organised, clear explanations, sound course material.”
“Enjoyable basic course, perfect location (Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ).”
“It met my expectations. At the very least I can now read an SQL script. Creating simple ones myself also goes well.”
“The course has given me enough tools to get started with SQL. You gain the experience in practice, but this course gives you enough firm ground under your feet.”
“A good basics course in which my knowledge improved by 100%. Good material, a steady pace and excellent exercises. Recommended as an SQL basics course.”
“I was very satisfied with the set-up and delivery of this course. A good balance was struck between participants working at different paces. The explanations were clear, with a good balance between doing exercises together and getting to work on exercises yourself.”
“A good course with good materials. I got a solid grasp of the SQL basics in two days. I would recommend doing some preparation beforehand so you pick up the topics better and faster. The trainer was open to questions and explained things well.”
“Excellent course with plenty of depth added to the basic material by a professional trainer.”
“Good course for beginners who already have a little experience with SQL; reasonable account is taken of the type of SQL you use yourself (let the organisation know in advance if you like, then you may receive a different textbook). The course really does stick to the basics.”
“My first introduction to SQL in this SQL Basics course. Good, clear explanation of the material. Plenty of exercises to put the material into practice straight away, and an enthusiastic trainer make this course a recommendation for anyone who wants to know more about SQL.”
“Valuable course with highly capable trainers, at a pleasant location.”
“Good course with a good trainer! I now have the basics under control and can keep practising with the material provided.”
“The SQL Advanced course was very good and applicable in practice. This course is a good addition if you already know a bit more about T-SQL. It teaches you a number of approaches that you would normally do differently. The first day is also good for refreshing your knowledge.”
“I would recommend this course to people who have never worked with SQL before; it is perfectly suited to that.”
"This trainer is a highly knowledgeable person who conveys the course material to the participants in a calm, considered and thorough manner."
“If you have no experience with sql and would like to learn the basics, this course is a good start! Now I know a bit about what sql involves.”
“The trainer has a great deal of knowledge of the subject matter. He showed examples he had made himself, which were very interesting. He explained these examples in full. I learnt a lot from this and felt motivated.”
“Interesting and practical course. The trainer responded quickly to the feedback given, which made it feel even more like a tailor-made course!”
“Good, clear training course, really for building reports for beginners.”
“For me, this course was on the one hand a good repetition of the SQL Basics course I also attended, and on the other hand it covered additional topics I did not yet know. Thanks to the content of the course I now have, as the trainer nicely put it, a number of new tools in my toolbox that I can use if I need them in my work.”
“Interesting and practical course. The trainer responded quickly to the feedback given, which made it feel even more like a tailor-made course!”
“Attended the Report Builder course. Enthusiastic trainer who shared his expertise with us in a pleasant way. During the course day we were able to use good practice material, with a well-structured set-up. Learned a lot, excellent value with a useful presentation as reference material.”
“Excellent course if you want to learn SQL thoroughly and in a structured way. With plenty of practical exercises. The content of the course was excellent: clearly organised, good course material including practice assignments, a good balance between theory and practical exercises. The trainer's knowledge is good, as is the way he explains and conveys the material. He places a strong emphasis on building knowledge in a structured and solid way, rather than on quick results. He responded well to questions.”
"Extremely instructive, built up step by step and easy to understand for people with no prior knowledge of this."
“SQL Basics was an excellent course and immediately applicable in practice. The trainer is friendly, patient and open. He certainly knows his subject and enjoys being challenged by his participants.”
“Very good course. Excellent trainer”
“Well-structured course. Good course material and reference work. The trainer has a sound knowledge of SQL and conveys it well.”
“SQL Basics Oracle is a course I can recommend with complete confidence. Its practical applicability is very high!”
“Very pleasant course and organisation, highly satisfied!”
"A good basic course. Topics are explained step by step, after which participants practise for themselves with a number of short exercises. Because the trainer walks around and looks on, you get immediate feedback."
“The SQL Advanced course was very good and applicable in practice. This course is a good addition if you already know a bit more about T-SQL. It teaches you a number of approaches that you would normally do differently. The first day is also good for refreshing your knowledge.”
Training formats
Classroom
1 day€ 725,-- Pleasant venue with a good trainer
- Small groups
- Inspiring and motivating
In-company
Bespoke trainingOn request- 100% for your group
- Bespoke training
- At your place or ours
Workshop
Up to 4 hours for groupsOn request- Suitable for events
- Interactive and inspiring
- Large groups too
Private training
At our place or yoursOn request- 100% just for you
- Achieve a lot in little time
- Whenever you want
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel free of charge?
Yes. Up to four weeks before the first day of the course you can cancel free of charge, without giving a reason. You then receive a credit note or, if you have already paid, a refund. If you cancel later, you pay part of the course fee: 25% between four and two weeks before the start, 75% in the two weeks before it and 100% in the final week. Moving to another start date is free of charge up to two weeks before the start, after that 50%. Sending a colleague in your place is always possible. Read the cancellation terms.
What does the AI for SQL Server course cost?
You can find the current price at the top right of this course page, along with the schedule, location and delivery format. For in-company or bespoke courses we are happy to provide a quotation on request.
What prior knowledge do you need for the AI for SQL Server course?
You have solid T-SQL skills and are comfortable working with SQL Server Management Studio. You can reach that level, for example, with our SQL Advanced course or through equivalent practical experience. Prior knowledge of Azure or OpenAI is not required; we cover those from the basics. Experience with Python is a plus for the Machine Learning Services part, but not a requirement.
Who is the AI for SQL Server course suitable for?
The course is intended for SQL Server database administrators, data engineers, BI developers and application developers who work with T-SQL and want to increase their productivity with AI. Data architects who want to determine strategically how AI functions fit within their data platform will also find the right depth here. You do not have to be a data scientist: the starting point remains SQL Server.
What exactly do you learn about Copilot in SQL Server Management Studio?
You learn to use Copilot in SSMS (preview) to generate queries based on natural language, have existing T-SQL explained and request optimisation and index suggestions. You ask schema questions to quickly find the right tables and relationships, and you use Copilot to decipher error messages. The emphasis is on working productively, not on demos.
Can the AI for SQL Server course also be taken in-company or online?
Yes. In addition to classroom groups at our locations, we also offer the course in-company and online. For in-company courses we are happy to work with a test environment that matches your own SQL Server version and Azure tenant. Request a proposal via the course page and we will think along with you about the content.
Do you receive a certificate on completion of the course?
Yes. If you have attended the course in full, you receive a certificate of attendance from Learnit. This is proof that you took an active part in the day and covered the topics dealt with. It is not an exam certification.
What do the teaching methods and course materials look like?
The course is entirely hands-on. Short explanations alternate with practical assignments in a Learnit test environment with SQL Server 2022 and a connected Azure OpenAI endpoint. You receive a workbook with a dataset and step-by-step instructions, plus a reference document with code examples that you take back to your own workplace afterwards. With a maximum of 6 participants per group, there is room for your own questions.
Why take this course instead of experimenting with ChatGPT and SQL yourself?
Separate experiments with ChatGPT quickly give you a feel for prompts, but not for the integration in SQL Server itself. In this course you work with the built-in Copilot in SSMS, with a real Azure OpenAI connection from T-SQL and with vector search in SQL Server 2022. These are architectural choices and security questions that you will grasp more quickly in a single guided day than in weeks of self-study.
What can you apply in your own work immediately after the course?
You can use Copilot in SSMS to write queries faster and document existing code. You can connect an Azure OpenAI endpoint to your database and from there classify text fields, analyse sentiment or make documents searchable with embeddings. The complete use case you build during the course day serves as a blueprint for your own environment.
How does this differ from Learnit's SQL Advanced course?
The SQL Advanced course focuses on advanced T-SQL: subqueries, window functions, stored procedures and performance tuning without AI. This course builds on that and adds the AI layer: Copilot, Azure OpenAI, Machine Learning Services and vector search. The SQL Advanced course is good preparation if you want to sharpen your T-SQL level first.
Is this course also suitable for BI developers who mainly work with Power BI?
Yes, provided you have solid T-SQL skills. BI developers get a great deal out of the sections on sentiment analysis, customer segmentation and document search: these are exactly the enrichments you can then visualise in Power BI. The course itself focuses on the SQL Server side of that enrichment, not on Power BI reporting.
How does the course deal with security and prompt injection?
Security has a fixed place. You learn how prompt injection works, how to separate user input from instructions and how to prevent sensitive data from flowing to the OpenAI endpoint unintentionally. We also cover setting up audit trails, so you can look back afterwards at which AI calls were made and with which data. That way you remain demonstrably in control, even when you put AI into production.
Next start date: Thu 4 February 2027 in Amsterdam
Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so you can secure a place now.