SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Score8.5 out of 10

54 Reviews and Ratings

What is SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)?

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is an integrated environment for managing any SQL infrastructure, from SQL Server to Azure SQL Database.

Categories & Use Cases

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Thom Krystofiak

Engineering Team Leader in Information Technology at XCast Labs (11-50 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We manage almost everything about our various SQL Server databases using SQL Server Management Studio. We perform all of our manual queries in SQL Server Management Studio, we use it for drafting new functions and stored procedures, we use it to create tables, views, constraints, and triggers, we use it to create SQL Agent jobs and manage them, we use it to examine execution plans,and much more.

Pros

Intellisense
Execution plans
SQL Agent management

Cons

I have always been bothered by the way the list of stored procedures in the Object Explorer have dbo prepended, so that you cannot use keystrokes to easily jump to a particular file
Occasionally an open query window loses its connection
It can be slow to open certain files (e.g. when using Script Stored Procedure As)

Return on Investment

SQL Server Management Studio is our go-to tool for almost everything we do with SQL Server. Highly efficient and flexible.
Compared to other alternatives, I would say we save at least 25% of the overall time we need to spend working in SQL Server.

Usability

Alternatives Considered

DBeaver

Other Software Used

Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, GitHub

Juan Camilo

Data Analyst in Information Technology at Oliver Gal (51-200 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is the main tool we use for the analysis and managment of data. It has a simple IU but we use it mainly for data exploration, clean up of errors, import of data (thanks to its integrated tools) but also thanks to the extensions as SQL Server Integration Services, we use it for managing and executing ETLs.

Pros

Easy and clean IU that enables quick analysis
Reliable and with known stability
Folder like managment of Databases/Tables

Cons

Sorting of executed queries not available
Quality of life improvements on folders and managment
Some outdated tools that need revamping

Return on Investment

Not expensive
Easy to install and distribute from Windows
Not complex (Low trainning)

Usability

Alternatives Considered

Snowflake, Google BigQuery and SQLite

Other Software Used

Snowflake, Google BigQuery, SQLite

Verified User

Engineer in Information Technology (1-10 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We're using SQL Server Management Studio for database administration and development.

Pros

Database queries
Database management
Table design

Cons

The table relation and index dialogs should allow resizing
The autocomplete for queries could be better
Allow for tabs or query history/saving state
Should have more data export options (Excel, json, etc), like SQL Data Studio
The database diagram functionality feels dated and clunky

Return on Investment

Positive: Has allowed quick access to our databases both for our development and production environments, on local environments or Azure.
It's fast, not sluggish
The newest version (22.1) has many improvements which has allowed us to be more productive, starting with the server connection dialog.

Usability

Alternatives Considered

DataGrip

Other Software Used

DataGrip, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, Microsoft Visual Studio, JetBrains Rider

Verified User

Professional in Information Technology (51-200 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to connect to all of our databases to build, test and run sql queries to gather data for a multitude of reasons. We also use it to create tables, views, stored procedures, triggers, etc. etc. We run all of our queries directly out of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), (this is the main tool for our org related to SQL interaction.

Pros

Running queries
Allowing application of db objects
Allowing monitoring of the db
Adding users/security

Return on Investment

Not 100% sure on this one, I just know it makes our lives easier

Usability

Alternatives Considered

Toad Database Developer Tools and Microsoft Visual Studio

Other Software Used

Microsoft Visual Studio, DevExpress Universal, Redgate SQL Prompt

Verified User

Engineer in Information Technology (10,001+ employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

To work on daily requests on SQL server databases. IT really enhances and helps in multiple aspects for multiple IT people who work in database technologies. Very useful and light weight tool. SQL server is apt for this tool and it has helped in improving productive work drastically. Would definitely recommend this tool.

Pros

Export data
Generate scripts
connecting to SQL instances

Cons

it can still be made easier for connecting perspective
some bugs on versions of SQL can be avoided.
can be more user friendly

Most Important Features

Performance monitoring
Query analysis
Export data

Return on Investment

easy to use accessibility
durability, It has been durable
recovery of old tabs.

Alternatives Considered

MySQL Workbench

Other Software Used

MySQL Workbench, pgAdmin, SAP HANA Cloud