Tag: IT Manager

TBA Strategic Tech Summit

Join Us: Tennessee Bankers Association Innovation and Strategic Tech Summits

The SERO Group is excited to participate in the 2025 TBA Innovation and Strategic Tech Summits on April 10th and 11th in Franklin, TN. This event brings together banking professionals, technology leaders, and industry experts to discuss the future of banking and explore innovative solutions for financial institutions. With a rapidly changing landscape, banks need…
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SQL Server Downtime Prevent

The Impact of SQL Server Downtime (and How to Prevent It)

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…
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Replacement FFIEC CAT

Farewell, CAT: FFIEC Cybersecurity Tool Will Sunset This August

Banks’ Replacement Options for the FFIEC CAT Since 2015, the FFIEC CAT has helped financial institutions assess cybersecurity risks and maturity levels. However, the FFIEC recently announced that the CAT will sunset on August 31, 2025. Now, banks must determine the best alternative to ensure continued compliance and security. The FDIC’s official announcement encourages institutions…
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Database downtime cost

The True Costs of Database Downtime—and Why Modernization Can’t Wait

How to Build a Business Case for Modernization In today’s always-on business environment, database downtime isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a direct hit to revenue, productivity, and customer trust. Despite this, many organizations delay modernization efforts due to perceived costs and complexity. However, the real question is: can your business afford not to modernize? Read on…
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SQL Server piecemeal restores

SQL Server Piecemeal Restores: Minimize Downtime & Speed Up Recovery

Restoring large databases can be time-consuming, but online piecemeal restores in SQL Server Enterprise offer quicker access to data. This method allows partial restoration while keeping the primary filegroup online, minimizing downtime. Requirements include using the Enterprise edition, multiple filegroups, a full recovery model, and available log backups. Best practices enhance efficiency.

SQL Server high memory usage

Understanding SQL Server’s High Memory Usage: What You Need to Know

“Why is SQL Server memory usage high?” If you haven’t been asked this question, you haven’t supported SQL Server long enough. I’ve encountered managers, systems administrators, and developers who’ve wondered this. Simply put, data reads are much faster in RAM than from disks. RAM latency is typically measured in nanoseconds. By contrast, disk latency is…
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Best business books

The Best Business Books I Read in 2024

I read 50 to 60 books a year, a habit I’ve maintained for most of my life. Some of those are just-for-fun fiction books. Others are educational nonfiction books that give me glimpses into other disciplines or subjects. Still others, like the books I’ll share in this post, help me to improve in my various…
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DBA IT Audit 2025

10 Essential IT Audit Questions: The DBA’s Guide to SQL Server Compliance and Security in 2025

As 2025 kicks off, organizations are eagerly setting new goals. For DBAs, a top priority might be preparing thoroughly for the next IT audit. Whether planned or unplanned, an audit can significantly impact how others perceive your IT department’s reliability. A seamless audit highlights strong governance and dependable systems, while missteps can reveal vulnerabilities and…
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Side-by-Side Upgrade

7 Reasons to Choose a Side-by-Side Upgrade for Your SQL Server

So, your Microsoft SQL Server is showing its age, and you need to upgrade it. What’s the best approach—an in-place upgrade or a side-by-side upgrade? For many businesses, especially those in industries like healthcare or banking, where reliability, security, and performance are non-negotiable, a side-by-side SQL Server upgrade is often the smarter choice. But first,…
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SQL preventive maintenance

Schedule Preventative Maintenance for SQL Server: Key Steps to Protect Your Database

“This SQL Server is critical. It’s used 24/7. So, we’re behind on patching, and we disabled our scheduled preventative maintenance jobs because they interfered with production. Our database is just too important to do that. We know that maintenance is important, but we just can’t.” Does that sound familiar? I hope not. It’s not a…
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