What is Accelerated Database Recovery?

Accelerated Database Recovery (ADR) came out in SQL Server 2019 and is an enhanced way for SQL Server to do database crash recovery. It uses a new Streaming Log (SLOG) feature that allows much faster redo and undo phases of the process by tracking any non-versioned actions.

The Persistent Version Store is another new component to the process. It holds row versions in the database itself, either on the data pages being modified or in a separate system table. This persisted version store is very similar to how read committed snapshot isolation uses row-versions to allow for read and write queries to operate without blocking each other. This holding mechanism for row versions is cleaned up periodically by a background process that removes unneeded row versions. This persisted version store, in combination with the SLOG, allows a couple of things.

First, in the redo phase there is no longer the need to read the transaction log serially from the oldest uncommitted transaction forward to the time of the crash to replay and redo records for creating a consistent state in the database. Instead, SQL Server uses the SLOG to recover any non-versioned actions from the oldest uncommitted transaction forward up to the point of the last checkpoint. This is much faster. Once the last checkpoint is reached, only then will SQL Server start reading the transaction log for any redo work.

Second, in the Undo phase, the SLOG is used again to undo any non-versioned operations, and the persistent version store is used to simply switch the database rows back to whatever the proper current row was at the time of the crash.

Traditional Recovery: Picture from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/accelerated-database-recovery-concepts?view=sql-server-ver17

Recovery using Accelerated Database Recovery: Picture from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/accelerated-database-recovery-concepts?view=sql-server-ver17

Why would you want to enable Accelerated Database Recovery?

Accelerated database recovery can save you and your clients from extended outages due to long rollback times under heavy load. I’ve seen rollback times of 45-60 minutes be reduced to seconds with this feature enabled. The use-case I had was during SQL Server patching clients weren’t always out of the system as requested. In some cases, the client activity had a lot of changes in-flight when patching was applied and the traditional recovery method took a very long time after the server rebooted.

I enabled ADR and never had that problem again. This feature can also save you from pain you inflict on yourself. If you’re running a query to make a lot of changes and it is decided to kill the query, causing rollback, then the ADR feature can execute rollback almost instantaneously. This is much better than waiting a long time for single threaded rollback of a query that has been running a long time.

How to determine if Accelerated Database Recovery is enabled?

The system table sys.databases can be queried to show whether this feature is enabled or not.

SELECT name
FROM sys.databases 
WHERE is_accelerated_database_recovery_on = 1;

How to enable Accelerated Database Recovery?

An exclusive database lock is required to enable Accelerated Database Recovery. This means the change should be done in a maintenance window where no activity is expected. The feature can be enabled in the presence of other activity using the termination clause WITH ROLLBACK [IMMMEDIATE | AFTER {Number} SECONDS | NO_WAIT] . Using the  IMMEDIATE option will immediately rollback other transactions so that the ALTER statement will complete. The NO_WAIT option will terminate the ALTER statement if it can’t be executed immediately. Choose one of the three options.

ALTER DATABASE [<db_name>] SET ACCELERATED_DATABASE_RECOVERY = ON WITH ROLLBACK [IMMMEDIATE | AFTER {Number} SECONDS | NO_WAIT;

What sp_configure settings should be adjusted for Accelerated Database Recovery?

First, the ADR Cleaner Thread Count option in sp_configure controls the number of cpu threads to use for the background cleaner process that removes old row versions from the Persisted Version Store. This option was introduced in SQL Server 2022. It is advisable not to set this to a large number. You can increase it from the default of 1 to 2 or perhaps 4 to ensure that Persisted Version Store cleanup is happening quickly enough across a large number of databases.

-- Configure ADR cleaner to use 4 threads
EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;
RECONFIGURE;

EXEC sp_configure 'ADR Cleaner Thread Count', 4;
RECONFIGURE WITH OVERRIDE;

Second, the ADR Pre-allocation Factor setting can also be adjusted. If the “just in time” mechanism to allocate pages to store rows in the persisted version store is above zero by a significant amount, then this sp_configure option can be set to allocate pages ahead of time for the version store. There is an extended event called tx_version_optimized_insert_stats that can be reviewed to see what the “just in time” value is. The value to check is labeled “foreground_allocation_percent.”

The default value for the ADR pre-allocation factor is 4. The number of pages allocated at any one time is 512 X the ADR Pre-allocation Factor. It isn’t recommended to set this fact too high because pre-allocating too many pages can cause contention.

-- Configure ADR Preallocation Factor
EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;
RECONFIGURE;

EXEC sp_configure 'ADR Preallocation Factor', 6; -- Defaults vary based on workload
RECONFIGURE WITH OVERRIDE;

Is a Long Rollback Costing You Downtime?

SQL Server recovery issues can turn a routine maintenance window into a multi-hour outage. The SERO Group specializes in exactly this kind of proactive SQL Server management. Schedule a free discovery call and let’s talk about your environment.

The post An Overview of Accelerated Database Recovery appeared first on The SERO Group.

• A runaway transaction filling up a log file or even an mdf file in a user database or tempdb.
• Someone or some process took an extra backup that wasn’t planned for.
• A new database was created with larger than expected files sizes.
• An application is using the Volume Shadow Service to make backups of databases to a local volume.

This last scenario related to volume shadow service is what I want to talk about today. This one can be a little confusing at first because your organization may get a low disk space alert that doesn’t seem to make sense. The alert may indicate that there is less than 10% free space, but looking at the volume in Windows Explorer doesn’t show that at all. It turns out that VSS files aren’t visible to Windows explorer. You might come across this when investigating the following error, “Volsnap – 36 – The shadow copies of volume E: were aborted because the shadow copy storage could not grow due to a user imposed limit.”

To investigate what is happening, try some of the VSSAdmin commands, like this:

vssadmin list shadowstorage

The output pf this PowerShell command will show what volumes are being backed up by VSS, and what the target volume is for those VSS files. If the volumes are already low on space, deleting some of the shadow copies may be the first thing needed. This can be done with the following command:

vssadmin delete shadows /for=<ForVolumeSpec> [/oldest | /all | /shadow=<ShadowID>] [/quiet]

Then a limit can be placed on the amount of storage allocated to VSS files using this command:

vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=<ForVolumeSpec> /on=<OnVolumeSpec> [/maxsize=<MaxSizeSpec>]

Keep in mind that someone will need to determine first if the older VSS files are needed prior to executing the delete and resize commands.

Tired of Chasing SQL Server Alerts?

Dealing with disk space issues on your SQL Servers? That’s exactly the kind of problem The SERO Group solves every day. Schedule a free discovery call and let’s take a look.

The post How to Use VSSADMIN Commands To Manage Low Disk Space appeared first on The SERO Group.

As I sat there, I ended up reflecting back on 2025. I found myself gravitating to these three questions:

• What went well this year?
• What did I learn?
• What should I focus on next year?

If you’re a leader, I’m guessing you rarely get this kind of thinking time during your workday. I know I don’t. Our calendars are packed with calls, team meetings, and those “quick questions” that turn into two-hour troubleshooting sessions.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the quality of your strategic decisions is directly tied to the quality of your thinking time.

And thinking time doesn’t happen by accident. You have to protect it.

What Went Well This Year?

When I asked myself this question, I didn’t think about our biggest projects or flashiest achievements. I didn’t think about when we migrated almost 2,000 databases as part of an upgrade project. Or the performance tuning we did that resulted in a $36,000 reduction in annual Azure spend for a client.

Instead, I thought about the relationships we strengthened. The trust we built with clients. The problems we solved before they became crises.

For you, this might look like:

• The audit that went smoothly because your security documentation was solid
• The successful disaster recovery test that was possible because you kept refining the process
• The team member you mentored who’s now ready for more responsibility
• The support resources you provided your team through a trusted partner

These aren’t always the things that make it into board reports. But they’re the foundation that everything else is built on.

What Did I Learn?

This year reminded me of something Eisenhower once said: “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.”

The need for planning cannot be overstated. It’s critical. Even if the plan doesn’t always work out the way you intended.

The plan itself wasn’t the point. The thinking I did while creating the plan was the point.

Because I’d thought through our capacity, our ideal client profile, and our service delivery model, I could adjust quickly when reality didn’t match my spreadsheet. I knew which opportunities were a good fit for us and which ones to let go. Because we’ve intentionally built a small but incredibly talented team that genuinely wants to see our clients succeed, we were able to identify and create ways to help them.

I watched the same dynamic play out with clients. The institutions that had documented their SQL Server environments, tested their disaster recovery plans, and mapped their compliance requirements adapted quickly when needed. They were positioned for success even when the unexpected happened.

Planning isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about building the muscle memory to respond when the future surprises you.

What did you learn this year about planning and adapting? Maybe it was:

• That your three-year technology roadmap needs quarterly reviews, not just annual ones
• That the disaster recovery plan sitting in a SharePoint folder isn’t the same as a tested DR plan
• That “we’ll address that next quarter” eventually becomes “why didn’t we address this sooner?”
• That having an expert on call beats having a plan to find an expert when something breaks

These lessons matter. Write them down. They’re not just hindsight—they’re your blueprint for better decisions ahead.

What Should I Focus On Next Year?

For me, the answer was clear: I need to help more financial institutions and healthcare organizations understand that they have options. Most CIOs think they have two choices for database management: hire a full-time DBA (expensive and hard to find) or make do with whoever can “figure it out” (risky and unsustainable).

There’s a third option: fractional DBA services that give you expert oversight without the full-time price tag.

For you, your focus might be different. Maybe it’s:

• Finally getting your SQL Server environment documented and audit-ready
• Building a disaster recovery plan that you’ve actually tested
• Move a little further along the SQL Server Maturity Curve
• Finding a partner who understands banking compliance, not just databases

Whatever it is, the key is to actually choose something. Not everything. Something. And move toward it. Make progress.

The Power of Quiet Reflection

Here’s the thing about those early Saturday morning moments: they’re rare. And precious.

During the week, we’re in execution mode. We’re responding, reacting, solving, and fixing. That’s necessary work. But it’s not strategic work.

Strategic work requires space. It requires stepping back from the urgent to focus on the important.

So, here’s my challenge to you as we wind down 2025 and usher in the new year:

Block Off Time Just to Think, Then Protect It

Maybe it’s Saturday mornings before your family wakes up. Maybe it’s a long walk at lunch. Maybe it’s 90 minutes with your calendar blocked and your office door closed.

Whatever it is, protect it. The decisions you make during that quiet time about where to focus, what risks to address, and which partnerships to invest in will help shape your entire year.

Your Turn

As you think about the year ahead, I’d encourage you to ask yourself those three questions:

1. What went well this year? Celebrate it. Learn from it.
2. What did I learn? Write it down. It’s wisdom you paid for.
3. What should I focus on next year? Pick one or two things. Not everything.

And if one of those focus areas is “finally get our SQL Server environment to a place where I’m confident, not just hopeful,” let’s talk. That’s exactly what we help institutions do.

If you’re a CIO wondering whether your SQL Server environment is as healthy and secure as it should be, I’d be happy to have a conversation. No sales pitch. Just two people talking candidly about database management. Schedule a time here.

The post Why Quiet Reflection Leads to Better IT Strategy Decisions appeared first on The SERO Group.

Why SQL Server Maturity Matters

In banking, SQL Server isn’t just a technology platform—it’s the backbone of customer trust, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience. But many institutions operate in reactive, risk-heavy environments that lead to outages, security gaps, and missed opportunities.

Our webinar introduced the SQL Server Maturity Curve, a framework that helps banks understand where they are today and how to move from risk-prone management to proactive, business-enabling excellence.

What You’ll Learn

The Four Stages of SQL Server Maturity

• Reactive (High Risk): Frequent outages and compliance vulnerabilities.
• Managed (Controlled Risk): Basic monitoring for acceptable performance.
• Optimized (Competitive Edge): Proactive management for reliability and scalability.
• Strategic (Business Enabler): Databases as drivers of growth and innovation.

Financial Impact

• Hidden costs of downtime and data breaches.
• ROI models for investing in maturity.
• Budget planning frameworks that align with long-term goals.

Risk & Compliance

• How database maturity affects FFIEC, GLBA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Governance and audit readiness strategies.
• Building resilient infrastructure to ensure business continuity.

Strategic Roadmap

• Tools to assess your current maturity stage.
• How to prioritize the right next steps.
• Resource allocation strategies to minimize disruption.

Who Should Watch?

This session is tailored for:

• CIOs and IT Executives
• VP of Information Technology
• Directors of Infrastructure
• Database Administrators with strategic influence
• Risk Management and Compliance Officers

Why This Webinar?

This wasn’t a tactical training—it’s a strategic briefing for leaders who want to understand the financial and regulatory impact of their SQL Server maturity. You’ll gain clarity on your institution’s current state and a roadmap to move from risk to advantage. We hope you’ll enjoy this high-value webinar and please reach out to us if you have any questions.

The post Webinar: Where Is Your Bank on the Risk-to-Advantage Spectrum? appeared first on The SERO Group.

With a rapidly changing landscape, banks need to stay ahead of emerging trends, security risks, and technological advancements. The TBA Innovation and Strategic Tech Summits provide a unique opportunity to gain insights, connect with peers, and discover new strategies to enhance banking operations.

What to Expect at the TBA Innovation and Strategic Tech Summits

The events will both feature sessions on key topics that impact financial institutions, including:

• Cybersecurity trends and risk management to help banks strengthen their security posture
• Artificial intelligence and automation in banking to improve efficiency and customer experience
• The latest advancements in digital payments and financial transactions
• Fraud prevention strategies to combat financial crime in an increasingly digital world

The agenda includes expert speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to help their institutions adapt to the changing banking landscape.

Stop By for Expert Advice on SQL Server – and Grab a Free Pair of Socks!

I’ll be attending the event, and I look forward to connecting with banking professionals who want to enhance their IT infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity, and stay compliant with evolving regulations. Additionally, please stop by our table for a free pair of socks!

How to Register

Register via the TBA’s website to secure your spot and join us next month. We hope to see you there!

Can’t make it to the event? Connect with us for a call!

If you won’t be at the event, we’d still love to connect! Schedule a no-obligation discovery call to see how we can support your organization in 2025.

The post Join Us: Tennessee Bankers Association Innovation and Strategic Tech Summits appeared first on The SERO Group.

Event details: GBA Operations and Technology Conference

February 26-28, 2025
The DeSoto, Savannah, GA
Want to register? Sign up here.

What You’ll Learn at the Conference

The GBA Operations and Technology Conference isn’t just about networking—it’s a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the latest trends shaping banking technology. With sessions covering cybersecurity best practices, fintech partnerships, vendor risk management, and payments innovation, attendees will walk away with actionable strategies to improve operational efficiency and security.

For financial institutions managing mission-critical data in SQL Server, staying ahead of these trends is crucial. As technology evolves and regulations tighten, banks must ensure their database environments are secure, compliant, and optimized for performance. That’s where The SERO Group comes in—we’ll be there to discuss best practices, answer your questions, and provide expert guidance tailored to your institution’s needs.

Would you like a dedicated time to chat with our team at the event? Contact us today to schedule a quick meeting!

Why visit our booth?

Stop by our booth to enter our raffle, grab a free gift, or chat about how The SERO Group can support your banking technology needs. We help financial institutions keep their SQL Server environments secure, reliable, and efficient—whether you’re tackling security, compliance, or performance challenges.

Can’t make it to the event? Connect with us for a call.

If you won’t be at the event, we’d still love to connect! Schedule a free, no-obligation discovery call to see how we can support your organization in 2025.

The post Visit Us at the Georgia Bankers Association Operations and Technology Conference! appeared first on The SERO Group.

The event will be at the Louisville Marriott East from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. If you’re in the area, stop by our table to say hi or just to get some free database-themed socks. Haven’t you always wanted database-themed socks?

Hope to see you there!

Can’t make it to the event, but want to connect? Sign up for our Newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn.

The post Join Us: 8/21 IT Symposium in Louisville appeared first on The SERO Group.

This insightful webinar digs into the critical realm of data governance for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) with Natasha Collins, Database Consultant at The SERO Group. Discover how overlooking data quality and integrity can cost your company dearly, from missed revenue opportunities to significant financial setbacks post-cyber-attacks. Learn practical strategies to enhance data governance, identify gaps, secure organizational buy-in, and achieve quick wins. Don’t miss this opportunity to fortify your data strategy and safeguard your SMB against common pitfalls.

Mastering Data Governance for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses with Natasha Collins

In this session, you’ll learn: 

• What practical data governance often looks like for SMBs 
• How to identify gaps in your strategy 
• Ways to obtain organizational buy-in 
• Quick tips for: getting started, avoiding common pitfalls, & leveraging quick wins 

The webinar was on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, but you can click here to access a recording of the event. Additionally, here are some of Natasha’s past publications about data governance: 

• Archiving and Deletion Strategy…KonMari for Data Management?
• Data Management Strategy: A Kaizen Approach
• Are Information and Data Lifecycle Management Processes Different…and Who Cares?

Meet Your Database Consultant!

Natasha Collins is a Database Consultant for The SERO Group in Nashville, Tennessee.   

She began her career in nonprofit management, where she helped wrangle highly disparate and disorganized datasets for organizations that needed to show evidence-based outcomes for regulatory compliance, grants, and accountability to donors. This led her deeper and deeper into the technical space, until her passion and outlet for serving others became overtly technical through helping organizations to accomplish their missions through making the most of their data.  

Natasha has experience bridging the gaps between data specialties – including database administration, data engineering, and business intelligence. She has led and managed teams for several top tier organizations spanning multiple industries. As a consultant, she most enjoys the process of augmenting the internal expertise of client data teams with an outside perspective to deliver practical, scalable, and affordable data solutions for high-impact organizational pain points. 

Want to work with The SERO Group?

Ready to take control of your data? We can help you tailor practical data governance solutions to meet the specific needs of your SMB. Schedule a call or send us an email. 

The post Webinar: Data Governance for SMBs appeared first on The SERO Group.

RTO and RPO considerations webinar

Many companies take virtual machine snapshots. They snapshot their web servers and their file servers. They snapshot before software patching, before server upgrades, and before other configuration changes.

And with good reason. Snapshotting can be a great way to ensure you can recover the VM if something goes wrong.

What about SQL Server? Should you use VM snapshots to backup SQL Server? Are there RTO and RPO considerations of using snapshots instead of other approaches to backups?

In an upcoming webinar, we’ll discuss using VM snapshots as part of your backup strategy. We’ll pose eight important questions you should ask before adopting the snapshot approach.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Why backup?
• RPOs and RTOs
• 8 questions to ask
• Best practices
• Frequently Asked Questions

Who should attend:

This webinar will provide a discussion for those responsible for setting backup and recovery policies. It will benefit those who work with key stakeholders to understand the organization’s Recovery Point Objectives, and Recovery Time Objectives.

Want to attend?

The webinar is Wednesday, February 28 at 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CDT. That’s 18:00 UTC.

To register, visit the Eventbrite page, or complete the embedded version below.

Have some specific questions?

Backups are good. But it’s the ability to restore that is important. How confident are you that you can restore a critical database? Are you sure that your backup strategy meets your RTO’s and RPO’s?

Here are some posts that may help.

• Where to Start with Disaster Recovery in SQL Server
• High Availability and Disaster Recovery in SQL Server
• What is a SQL Server Recovery Model?
• Script: How Long Until My SQL Server Backup/Restore Completes?
• How to Test SQL Server Backups Using dbatools
• How Often Should I Test My SQL Server Backups?

We help a lot of companies configure their SQL Server environment so that when a disaster strikes, they’ll be prepared. Want to learn more? Schedule a call and let’s talk.

The post Should I Use VM Snapshots to Backup SQL Server? A Webinar appeared first on The SERO Group.

RTO and RPO considerations webinar

In an upcoming webinar and in-person session for the Middle Tennessee Chapter of ISACA, we’ll discuss discuss using VM snapshots as part of your backup strategy. We’ll pose eight important questions you should ask before adopting the snapshot approach.

Here’s the agenda:

How to attend?

The webinar is Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CDT

Interesting in joining us for the webinar? If you’re in the Middle Tennessee area and would like to attend the event in-person, we’d love to have you. Just click here to register. The location is: Vaco Nashville 5501 Virginia Way #Suite 120 Brentwood, TN 37027.

If you would like to attend the webinar presentation, you can register here.

If you’re not able to attend, here’s some additional information that may help. You can also email me and I’ll send the slide deck presentation.

Want to work with The SERO Group?

Backups are good. But it’s the ability to restore that is important.

We help a lot of companies prepare their SQL Server environment so that when a disaster strikes, they’ll be prepared. They know they have good backups. They know they can restore in a timely manner (RTO) and to a point-in-time (RPO) that is important to them.

Want to learn more? We can help. Schedule a call or send us an email. It’s easy and there is no obligation

The post Webinar: Virtual Machine Backups – RTO and RPO Considerations for you SQL Server appeared first on The SERO Group.