SQL Server has had a number of really wonderful new features over the last several releases. One of those features is Accelerated Database Recovery. This enhancement has received some coverage in the community and I want to make my own contribution to promoting this feature. What is Accelerated Database Recovery? Accelerated Database Recovery (ADR) came…
Read more
Low disk space alerts are a common occurrence in I.T. For SQL Server consultants, there could be a few causes: 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…
Read more
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…
Read more
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,…
Read more
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…
Read more
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…
Read more
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…
Read more
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…
Read more
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,…
Read more
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.…
Read more
Recent Comments