sp_check: SQL Server Database Checks

Remote dedicated admin connections

What's the issue?

There is no issue. This is simply indicates if the 'remote admin connections' configuration is enabled.

Why is this a problem?

If you didn't know, SQL Server reserves one CPU thread for a member of the sysadmin group to use for a connection.

What should you do about this?

You probably don't need to take any action, but we do recommend having the 'remote admin connection' enabled in case it is needed for troubleshooting. It does not introduce any additional security vulnerabilities, as it is only a an additional feature available to members of the sysadmin role.

What do the Vulnerability Levels mean?

0 - Information only. This is stuff you should know about your instances like version and service account used, but if you don't know it…well, now you do.

1 - High vulnerability requiring action. These are the issues that could most likely lead to your company being front page news for all the wrong reasons. If your instances have any results at this level then we recommend cancelling that 3-martini lunch and instead huddling with your team to figure out when to address these issues.

2 - High vulnerability to review. These include settings and assigned permissions you should review soon, if not immediately. These findings may not necessarily indicate a clear vulnerability, but we've found unexpected vulnerabilities in these categories at many, many clients.

3 - Potential vulnerability to review. These are configurations or assigned permissions you may be using that could lead to problems for users. Or maybe they're just required for your applications. Either way, we recommend reviewing these to make sure these are correct.

4 – Low vulnerability with recommended action. These are typically security inconsistencies that should be addressed. They aren't likely to cause problems, but you should clean up the mess.