“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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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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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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Need to build a SQL Server FCI in AWS but prefer not to use FSx for Windows File Server? Good news, you have other options. One option that more closely aligns with traditional FCIs that use shared disks is Multi-Attach EBS volumes. Multi-Attach EBS volumes in AWS enable organizations to use Windows Server Failover Clusters…
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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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“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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Being an “Accidental DBA” is a role some IT professionals find themselves in. Whether you’re an IT generalist, a software developer, or another professional tasked with SQL Server management on top of your primary responsibilities, the role can feel daunting. From maintaining performance to ensuring security, from verifying backups to responding to problems, SQL Server…
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When it comes to running your business, a well-maintained SQL Server infrastructure is often the unsung hero. SQL Server is often behind the scenes, powering critical systems, supporting decision-making, and safeguarding vital data. However, when it’s neglected, the costs—both visible and hidden—can quickly spiral out of control. The cost of neglecting SQL Server Let’s look…
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Managing SQL Server infrastructure in-house can present more challenges than many companies anticipate. Between constant security threats, performance monitoring, and ensuring high availability, the demands on a database administrator (DBA) are extensive. For many companies, especially those without a large IT staff, these needs can strain resources and impact profitability. Outsourcing SQL Server management offers…
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Since Microsoft SQL Server databases are critical for many organizations, protecting SQL Server from disasters such as security breaches and data loss isn’t optional—it’s essential. This is especially true for sectors like healthcare, banking, and FinTech. I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened. -Mark Twain Mark Twain’s quip…
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