CONTROL SERVER Permissions Are the Hidden SQL Server Superpower [30 SQL Server Security Checks in 30 Days]
June 3, 2024
This post is part of our SQL Server security blog series, 30 SQL Server Security Checks in 30 Days. We’re publishing a new security check every day in the month of June. Visit our sp_CheckSecurity page to learn about our free SQL Server tool you can download and run to check your own server. The … Read more
Your Biggest SQL Server Security Vulnerability Is Your sysadmin Role Members [30 SQL Server Security Checks in 30 Days]
June 2, 2024
This post is part of our SQL Server security blog series, 30 SQL Server Security Checks in 30 Days. We’re publishing a new security check every day in the month of June. Visit our sp_CheckSecurity page to learn about our free SQL Server tool you can download and run to check your own server. It … Read more
Disable the sa Login [30 SQL Server Security Checks in 30 Days]
June 1, 2024
This post is part of our SQL Server security blog series, 30 SQL Server Security Checks in 30 Days. We’re publishing a new security check every day in the month of June. Visit our sp_CheckSecurity page to learn about our free SQL Server tool you can download and run to check your own server. Please … Read more
SQL Server Tool Update: sp_CheckSecurity version 1.1
May 31, 2024
Since releasing our initial version of sp_CheckSecurity, we have received quite a bit of feedback. Thank you for all the emails, blog comments, and issues noted in GitHub, that have all been helpful in directing us towards making this SQL Server tool more useful. Today we are announcing the release of version 1.1, available for download … Read more
How to Troubleshoot SQL Server With PowerShell.
April 25, 2024
PowerShell is an essential tool for SQL Server database administrators looking to streamline their workflow and automate repetitive tasks. When it comes to troubleshooting your SQL Server instances, PowerShell is an essential tool for the DBA toolbox. As a versatile scripting language and command-line shell, PowerShell enables seamless integration of commands, arguments, variables, and modules … Read more
Introducing sp_CheckSecurity
April 17, 2024
Are your SQL Servers secure? With new threats to your data emerging daily, it’s a difficult question to answer. And what is even included in the word “secure”? Sure, maybe you’re confident you have security against hacking (or maybe not?), but what about internal security? Are you protected against oops moments? Are there elevated permissions … Read more
Building a Consultancy: More Principles
February 26, 2024
A couple of weeks ago, I started blogging about part of the journey of creating our SQL Server Consulting firm. I may someday work on more posts on the journey from full-time DBA to doing some side work to leaving with an “anchor client” to going off on my own (and my adventures with Linchpin … Read more
Building a SQL Server Consultancy
February 12, 2024
Principles and Values First In 2011, I set out to be an independent SQL Server consultant. At the time, if you told me I’d be looking back 13 years later as a “CEO” of a SQL Server Consulting practice with a team of 17+ FTEs serving 120+ Managed SQL Server DBA as a Service clients, … Read more
How to Optimize SQL Server Performance by Separating Workloads
January 25, 2024
I wrote this to share a series of scripts that help identify if workloads are appropriately separated on the SQL Server host. The main reason we look for this is to avoid I/O contention and waits, which is a challenge that can significantly impact performance. If you are unsure if your server is experiencing I/O … Read more
Audit Your Database Backup Chain!
October 30, 2023
All database administrators know that safeguarding data is paramount and having a strong restore strategy is crucial. In this post, I would like to add another tool to your arsenal that I have found helpful in auditing server health and configurations as it pertains to backups and the backup chain. A backup chain is important … Read more