The document discusses Azure SQL Database Ledger, which combines the power of blockchain with SQL. It allows making SQL database data tamper-evident through cryptography. All changes to the data are recorded in a verifiable historical record using cryptography proofs. Ledger tables in Azure SQL Database can be configured as updatable or append-only and cryptographically verify that database contents have not been tampered with. The technology enables use cases like a trusted off-chain store for blockchain data, streamlining auditing processes, and enabling multi-party business processes as an alternative to blockchain.

1. Azure SQL Database Ledger
Blockchain and SQL for centralized systems
Jose Javier Columbie
DevExpress & Microsoft MVP
javier.columbie@xari.io
@jjcolumbie

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DEVSpring22
DEVSpring22

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Blockchain

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Blockchain
• Hash Cryptography
• Immutable Ledger
• Distributed P2P Network
• Mining
• Consensus Protocol

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Blockchain
• Hash Cryptography
• Merkle Tree
“Mathematical data structure composed of
hashes of different blocks of data, and which
serves as a summary of all transactions in a
block.”

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Blockchain
• Immutable Ledger

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Blockchain
• Distributed P2P Network

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Blockchain
• Mining

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Blockchain
• Consensus Protocol

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Blockchain - Limitations
1. Early Stage
2. Lack of Awareness
3. Limited Available Technical Talent
4. Scalability && Performance
5. Hardware (Node)

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Blockchain has enabled digital trust
Companies are moving from
intermediaries and manual auditing that
are slow and costly…
…to ledger technologies that reduce cost,
saves time and lower risk.

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Blockchain has enabled digital trust
But blockchain isn't always the right fit for all
systems that require digitization of trust
"Ninety percent of permissioned blockchain
projects are misaligned to blockchain
technology, because they remain
centralized database projects at the core."

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Azure SQL Ledger
The power of the blockchain with the simplicity of SQL
Makes data in SQL
tamper-evident through
cryptography
Provides a historical record
of all changes, verified
through cryptography
proofs The same SQL you
already know across
Azure and on-premises

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 Updatable ledger tables
 Allow updates and deletes
 Data is protected through the database ledger
 Database digests are uploaded
 Database digests are used to verify the database
 Append-only ledger tables
 Not allow updates and deletes
Ledger tables in Azure SQL Database

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Scenarios for ledger tables
TRUSTED OFF-CHAIN STORE FOR
BLOCKCHAIN
Blockchain solutions typically replicate chain
data “off-chain” to traditional databases. Ledger
tables maintains integrity of blockchain data
STREAMLINING THE
AUDIT PROCESS
Cryptographically verifying data has
not been tampered to other parties
whether external or internal (auditors
or regulators)
MULTI-PARTY BUSINESS
PROCESSES
Alternative to blockchain for systems that
are centralized solutions at their core (trust,
but verify)

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Updatable ledger tables
SQL
Ledger view
Updatable ledger
table
History table
Trusted
storage
Database ledger

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Append-only ledger tables
SQL
Ledger view
Append-only
ledger table
Trusted
storage
Database ledger

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Business-critical data
in a WORM state
(Write Once, Read Many)

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EXECUTE sp_generate_database_ledger_digest

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Demo

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Thanks for joining!
Jose Javier Columbie
javier.columbie@xari.io
@jjcolumbie

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Azure SQL Database Ledger
Blockchain and SQL for centralized systems
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