With the explosion of AI and ever-increasing awareness of the importance of data, the term “data governance” seems to be everywhere these days. We hear it used in different contexts, and it may seem to equate to regulatory compliance or to have relevance for only the largest companies. This interpretation misses a key benefit of…
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Our team has been hard at work building the new SQL Server Daily Health Check Email and Dashboard. It’s designed to proactively deliver the information needed to keep your SQL Server environment healthy, secure, reliable, and running smoothly. And, we’d like your feedback on it. How the new SQL Server Daily Health Check works Here’s…
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As we ring in 2024, many are reflecting on the past year and making resolutions for the future. For businesses, one resolution should stand out: recommitting to data security. The late-2023 Xfinity breach, where 36 million customers had their personal information compromised, serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of cyberattacks. What happened?…
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SQL Server is a critical component for many businesses, and its health and performance can have a significant impact on operations. If SQL Server is having a bad day, a lot of people are having a bad day. Users, patients, loan officers, etc, and of course, IT. That’s why we recommend performing a SQL Server…
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Welcome to the third and final post in our series on Data Lifecycle Management (DLM), where we will talk about archiving and purging company data. In the last post, we talked about applying the Kaizen approach to data management to achieve a culture of continuous improvement on our data teams. In this post, we will…
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Poorly secured SQL Server VMs in Microsoft Azure are being attacked. And they are being used as a beachhead for additional exploits. According to a recent Microsoft warning, these attacks allow the bad actors to gain access to cloud resources without having to compromise the underlying infrastructure. How the attack works In the warning, Microsoft…
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We know better than to click a link from the son of an unfairly deposed Nigerian Prince who needs our help. Yet, according to Deloitte’s 2023 Global Risk Management Survey, 91% of all cyberattacks begin with a phishing email. And many of them are successful. No business or industry is off limits. So, it’s important…
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SQL Server is being targeted again. This attack is called DB#JAMMER. And it’s targeting poorly secured SQL Servers. What’s happening? Attackers begin by brute-forcing access into poorly secured SQL Servers. Once they have gained access, the attackers use xp_cmdshell to deploy tools. They manipulate the firewall, if needed, and transfer files to and from the…
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“Take time to improve our data management processes? Sorry, we are just too busy”… fixing errors from broken data processes. This refrain is more common than you think in IT departments of all sizes. Or maybe you live that reality every day and are fully aware that clunky, error-laden processes eat away at your team’s…
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“Why is my SQL Server slow?” Have you ever asked that question? Have your users? Unfortunately, that’s a commonly asked question. Fortunately, though, something can usually be done about it. Here are fourteen reasons a SQL Server instance could be underperforming. I’ve divided them into four broad categories. Slowness due to resource constraints Often the…
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