Local audit for SSMS usage and diagnostic data collection

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) contains Internet-enabled features that collect and send anonymous feature usage and diagnostic data to Microsoft.

SSMS might collect standard computer usage and performance information, which could be transmitted to Microsoft and analyzed to improve its quality, security, and reliability.

However, SSMS doesn't collect your name, address, or other data that could identify you as an individual.

For more information, see the Microsoft Privacy Statement and the SQL Server Privacy Supplement.

Audit feature usage and diagnostic data

To view the feature usage data collected by SSMS, follow these steps:

  1. Launch SSMS.
  2. Select View from the main menu, then select Output to display the Output window.
  3. In the Output window, choose Telemetry from the Show output from: dropdown list menu.

As you interact with SSMS, the Output window displays the collected data.

Enable or disable usage and diagnostic data collection in SSMS

To opt in or out of SSMS usage data collection, use the following methods:

  • Registry Subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SQL Server Management Studio\14.0
  • Registry Entry Name: UserFeedbackOptIn
  • Entry Type: DWORD
  • Values: 0 to opt out, 1 to opt in

Additionally, SSMS is based on the Visual Studio shell, which enables customer feedback by default.

To disable customer feedback for Visual Studio on individual computers, set the following registry subkey to 0:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\VisualStudio\SQM OptIn

Example:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\VisualStudio\SQM OptIn = 0

    Registry-based Group Policy on these registry subkeys is honored by SQL Server 2017 usage and diagnostic data collection.