I understand that people are busy and just need things to work. So, when there’s a performance problem with SQL Server, it can seem like the best, fastest way to get things working again is to restart the SQL Server service, or even reboot the machine. This is an even more attractive option when you’re…
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Let me paint a picture you’ve probably seen before. Your network administrator, Tom, has been managing your SQL Server databases for the past 15 years. It wasn’t his original job, but someone had to do it. Over time, Tom became the only person who really knows how everything works. He knows which maintenance jobs run…
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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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We’ve been learning about SQL Server Query Store lately. We’ve delved into a few benefits of the feature, as well as how to enable it. In today’s post, we’ll discover how this feature can play a role in maturing your SQL Server environment. A Refresher on the SQL Server Maturity Curve First, let’s remind ourselves…
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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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In banking, SQL Server isn’t just a piece of technology humming quietly in the background. It’s the backbone of customer trust, regulatory compliance, and day-to-day operations. Without it, transactions stall, reports can’t run, and auditors start asking uncomfortable questions. Yet in my conversations with CIOs and IT leaders, a common theme keeps coming up: many…
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