My Experience Integrating SSMS 21 with Copilot – Step-by-Step Guide to Boost SQL Server Productivity in 2025

 Recently, Microsoft announced the release of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 21  and this version introduces something exciting for database professionals: Copilot integration.

Copilot is an AI-powered assistant built into SSMS 21 that can help write SQL queries faster, suggest optimizations, and assist with repetitive coding tasks. As a database administrator and SQL Server enthusiast, I was eager to try it out. In this blog, I’ll share my step-by-step process for integrating Copilot with SSMS 21 and how I use it to speed up my daily work.

Why SSMS 21 + Copilot Is a Game-Changer

Before SSMS 21, AI-powered code assistance wasn’t a built-in feature for SQL developers. Now, with Copilot, we can:

• Get instant SQL query suggestions.

• Receive performance improvement tips.

• Generate T-SQL scripts quickly and accurately.

• Avoid common syntax mistakes with real-time validation.

Step-by-Step: How to Integrate Copilot with SSMS 21

Step 1 – Install or Update to SSMS 21 (Here you can watch my YouTube video)

Step 2 - login to Azure portal 

     Step 3. Click on the Create resource

Step 4.  Click on Azure OpenAI Services

Step 5. Once you click on that service, you need to follow these steps:

1. Create a new resource group or add the service to an existing resource group you are already using.

2. Enter a proper name for your service.

3. Select a pricing tier.

4. Click the Next button.

Step 6. In the Network section:

1. Select All networks, including the Internet, to allow access to the resource.

2. Click Next.

Step 7. Click Next.

Step 8. Click Create.

Step 9. Once you are done with the creation, in your Azure services, you will see an icon like this(Azure OpenAI Service). Click on it.

Step 10. In Azure OpenAI Service:

1. Click on Resource Management.

2. Click on Keys and Endpoint.

Step 11. These are the keys you will need for the Copilot integration.

Step 12.Click on Overview as highlighted in the picture, then click on 

1.  Explore Azure AI Foundry Portal.

Step 13.Once you go to the Azure AI Foundry Portal: 

1. Click on Deployments.
2. Click on Deployed Model.

Step 14. Then you click on Deploy Base Model.

Step 15. Here, select only the gpt-4o model, as it is the only version currently working with SSMS 21.

Step 16. Then Click on Confirm 

Step 17. Then Click  on Deploy 

Step 18. Once you’ve completed the deployment, launch your SSMS 21 and click on Copilot, as shown in the image.

Step 19. Fill in the text boxes using the parameters from the previous deployment:

1. Azure OpenAI Endpoint – You can find this in Step 11.

2. Deployment Name – This is from Step 17(Deployment Name).

3. Key – You can also find this in Step 11.

Step 20. Once you fill in the boxes with the relevant details, click on the Launch Copilot button.

21. Booom! You’re done, congratulations! You have successfully launched Copilot with SSMS 21.