The resource_semaphore wait can have devastating consequences for SQL Server performance. This wait essentially means that some of the queries in your workload have memory grants that are larger than the memory for the server can support. When that happens, the SQL Server feels like it is frozen and unresponsive. Queries are likely running, but…
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Last Saturday, I woke up before dawn to a quiet house. My family was still asleep, as I’m the only morning person in our household. The Christmas tree lights cast a warm glow across the room, and I was alone with my thoughts and a hot cup of coffee. No urgent emails, no fire drills,…
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Microsoft SQL Server 2025 has officially reached general availability, and it’s being called the most significant release for SQL developers in a decade. For IT leaders in community banking and financial services, this release brings meaningful improvements to performance, security, and licensing that deserve your attention. Whether you’re planning an upgrade from an aging SQL…
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In my previous post about Query Store, I wrote about the four key benefits to enabling Query Store. Now that I’ve convinced you to turn it on, how do you do that? One thing to point out is that in SQL Server 2022 and above, when creating a new database from the SSMS GUI or…
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When I talk with companies, whether they be community banks or healthcare companies, about their SQL Server environments, I find that most aren’t intentionally and proactively managing their SQL Server environment–they’re reacting to it. Things run fine until they don’t. Then, suddenly, IT teams are dealing with performance issues, failed backups, or questions from auditors…
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Query Store has been around since SQL Server 2016, but its full potential often goes untapped. Some companies were initially wary of it after some edge case problems arose during its initial rollout. However, since its initial release, Query Store has undergone numerous enhancements and is rapidly establishing itself as one of the most significant…
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Updated: November 3, 2025: Missed the live event? You can now watch the full recording on our YouTube channel. 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,…
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If you’re a new CIO at a bank or financial institution, chances are your organization relies heavily on Microsoft SQL Server. From core banking systems to regulatory data, SQL Server often holds your most critical and most targeted information. However, over time, many SQL Server environments quietly drift out of alignment with security best practices.…
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SQL Server is mission-critical to your business. However, maintaining performance, reliability, security, and compliance demands ongoing attention and specialized expertise. SQL Server managed services can provide valuable support in these areas. Still, even if your technical team sees the need, it can be tough to make the business case to your CFO. Since managed services…
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If disaster struck your data center right now, how quickly—and how cleanly—could your SQL Server environment recover? It’s a question too many teams avoid until it’s too late. But between rising cybersecurity threats, growing compliance expectations, and increasing reliance on real-time data, a solid SQL Server disaster recovery (DR) plan is no longer optional. Here’s…
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