For high-end, enterprise-scale databased applications, Microsoft offers SQL Server. The main product is now available in multiple flavors; the main branch consisting of both Standard and Enterprise editions, and "specialized" editions including Workgroup, Compact, Web, Developer, and Express.

The Enteprise version is, of course, the flagship and full featured version of the DB; while the Standard version falls next in line (feature wise) but lacks such features as support for mirrored backups, transparent encryption, data compression, and more. The specialty DBs, on the other hand, typically include only subsets of the Standard feature set, depending on edition; and include:

- Workgroup, targeted primarily to branch applications. Workgroup supports such features as policy-based configuration and management, database migration tools, and SQL query/edit and design tools; while lacking things such as support for HTTP/SOAP endpoints, data profiling and data warehousing tools, and data mining tools (all included in the Standard version)

- Web, most similar to Workgroup, but lacking features such as SQL query/edit and design tools, the Report Builder for ad-hoc reporting, and version control support (all available in the Workgroup and higher versions). The Web version is targeted for use with Internet interfaced applications

- Developer, similar to Enterprise but licensed only for development, test, and demo use

- Compact, one of two free versions. Compact is an embedded DB, which runs over "... all Microsoft Windows platforms ..." including XP/Vista, and Pocket PC

- Express, the other free version, targeted to learning and/or the building of desktop-based or small server applications (or for redistribution in ISV apps). Express version limitations include a maximum of 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM usage, and 4 GB DB size.

New features specifically touted by the vendor in the latest SQL Server (2008) release include the aforementioned support for transparent data encryption, data compression, and policy-based management; a new "Resource Governor," allowing for the definition and enforcement of resource limits and priorities for workloads; support for the hot loading of additional CPUs (on supporting hardware); Language Integrated Query (LINQ) allowing developers to to issue queries against data from within their .NET programming language instead of issuing SQL statements; new date and time data types (including date/time only, offsets, and larger types with expanded year and fractional second support); and spatial data types, including a geography data type for location-based development, among other new features.

SQL Server 2008 is available now to MSDN/TechNet subscribers. Visit Microsoft's Web site for further information.