“We’re upgrading Windows and SQL Server. Why can’t we just install the new version on top of the existing one? Why do we have to provision a new virtual machine and go through all that effort?” Whether you’re modernizing your SQL stack to meet compliance requirements, to maintain supportability, or because you want new features…
Read more
If you’re leading an IT team without a dedicated DBA, you’re not alone. Many small- to mid-sized organizations rely on a sysadmin or developer to “keep SQL Server running.” While that can work for a while, it often leaves teams blindsided when something breaks suddenly—or worse, when something breaks slowly. This is why it’s important…
Read more
I recently spoke with a senior IT leader at a respected financial institution about their Microsoft SQL Server environment. Like many banks, they rely on their core banking system provider to build and maintain their SQL Server infrastructure. But a recent experience undermined their confidence in that approach. Their core banking system SQL Server went…
Read more
If you’re responsible for a SQL Server environment, you already know the stakes: performance, availability, recoverability, and security. But what you don’t know—until something goes wrong—can cost you dearly. That’s why regular SQL Server Health Checks matter. Here are the most common problems we uncover—and why they need attention before they cause trouble. Top 10…
Read more
Sending emails from a SQL Server via sp_send_dbmail is common, but troubleshooting problems can be frustrating. Fortunately, SQL Server logs every email attempt, making it easier to find and fix issues. View All Messages Processed By Database Mail The sysmail_allitems view shows every email that Database Mail has tried to process, whether it was successful…
Read more
In previous posts, we’ve covered the more routine types of backups available within SQL Server — full, differential, and transaction log backups. While you may not use them as often, you should also be aware of tail-log backups when managing SQL Server. Tail-log backups can help in two scenarios. What is a tail-log backup? Tail-log…
Read more
Banks and credit unions rely on SQL Server databases to power transactions, portals, reporting, fraud detection, and core systems. Despite this, many institutions end up undermanaging or even overlooking these critical systems. The result? Performance lags, security vulnerabilities, and unplanned downtime that can cost far more than most institutions realize. If you’re responsible for operational…
Read more
If you’ve worked around database systems for long, you’ve no doubt encountered the issue of ensuring efficient storage. As your databases grow, so do your storage sizes (and costs!). Thankfully, SQL Server provides a powerful feature that can help alleviate this problem: compression. Compression in SQL Server is a feature that helps to reduce the…
Read more
For many businesses, the availability and performance of SQL Server databases are paramount. Unplanned downtime can lead to significant financial losses, tarnished reputations, and regulatory repercussions. Understanding the costs associated with SQL Server downtime and exploring strategies to mitigate these risks is essential for those aiming to maintain operational resilience in 2025. Read on for…
Read more
Indexes are an essential part of any SQL Server database. One of the keys to improving performance is understanding how indexes work. Indexes help speed up data retrieval, optimize query performance, and improve the overall efficiency of your database. SQL Server offers several index types, but clustered and non-clustered indexes are the most important. Understanding…
Read more
Recent Comments