As I sat there, I ended up reflecting back on 2025. I found myself gravitating to these three questions:

• What went well this year?
• What did I learn?
• What should I focus on next year?

If you’re a leader, I’m guessing you rarely get this kind of thinking time during your workday. I know I don’t. Our calendars are packed with calls, team meetings, and those “quick questions” that turn into two-hour troubleshooting sessions.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the quality of your strategic decisions is directly tied to the quality of your thinking time.

And thinking time doesn’t happen by accident. You have to protect it.

What Went Well This Year?

When I asked myself this question, I didn’t think about our biggest projects or flashiest achievements. I didn’t think about when we migrated almost 2,000 databases as part of an upgrade project. Or the performance tuning we did that resulted in a $36,000 reduction in annual Azure spend for a client.

Instead, I thought about the relationships we strengthened. The trust we built with clients. The problems we solved before they became crises.

For you, this might look like:

• The audit that went smoothly because your security documentation was solid
• The successful disaster recovery test that was possible because you kept refining the process
• The team member you mentored who’s now ready for more responsibility
• The support resources you provided your team through a trusted partner

These aren’t always the things that make it into board reports. But they’re the foundation that everything else is built on.

What Did I Learn?

This year reminded me of something Eisenhower once said: “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.”

The need for planning cannot be overstated. It’s critical. Even if the plan doesn’t always work out the way you intended.

The plan itself wasn’t the point. The thinking I did while creating the plan was the point.

Because I’d thought through our capacity, our ideal client profile, and our service delivery model, I could adjust quickly when reality didn’t match my spreadsheet. I knew which opportunities were a good fit for us and which ones to let go. Because we’ve intentionally built a small but incredibly talented team that genuinely wants to see our clients succeed, we were able to identify and create ways to help them.

I watched the same dynamic play out with clients. The institutions that had documented their SQL Server environments, tested their disaster recovery plans, and mapped their compliance requirements adapted quickly when needed. They were positioned for success even when the unexpected happened.

Planning isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about building the muscle memory to respond when the future surprises you.

What did you learn this year about planning and adapting? Maybe it was:

• That your three-year technology roadmap needs quarterly reviews, not just annual ones
• That the disaster recovery plan sitting in a SharePoint folder isn’t the same as a tested DR plan
• That “we’ll address that next quarter” eventually becomes “why didn’t we address this sooner?”
• That having an expert on call beats having a plan to find an expert when something breaks

These lessons matter. Write them down. They’re not just hindsight—they’re your blueprint for better decisions ahead.

What Should I Focus On Next Year?

For me, the answer was clear: I need to help more financial institutions and healthcare organizations understand that they have options. Most CIOs think they have two choices for database management: hire a full-time DBA (expensive and hard to find) or make do with whoever can “figure it out” (risky and unsustainable).

There’s a third option: fractional DBA services that give you expert oversight without the full-time price tag.

For you, your focus might be different. Maybe it’s:

• Finally getting your SQL Server environment documented and audit-ready
• Building a disaster recovery plan that you’ve actually tested
• Move a little further along the SQL Server Maturity Curve
• Finding a partner who understands banking compliance, not just databases

Whatever it is, the key is to actually choose something. Not everything. Something. And move toward it. Make progress.

The Power of Quiet Reflection

Here’s the thing about those early Saturday morning moments: they’re rare. And precious.

During the week, we’re in execution mode. We’re responding, reacting, solving, and fixing. That’s necessary work. But it’s not strategic work.

Strategic work requires space. It requires stepping back from the urgent to focus on the important.

So, here’s my challenge to you as we wind down 2025 and usher in the new year:

Block Off Time Just to Think, Then Protect It

Maybe it’s Saturday mornings before your family wakes up. Maybe it’s a long walk at lunch. Maybe it’s 90 minutes with your calendar blocked and your office door closed.

Whatever it is, protect it. The decisions you make during that quiet time about where to focus, what risks to address, and which partnerships to invest in will help shape your entire year.

Your Turn

As you think about the year ahead, I’d encourage you to ask yourself those three questions:

1. What went well this year? Celebrate it. Learn from it.
2. What did I learn? Write it down. It’s wisdom you paid for.
3. What should I focus on next year? Pick one or two things. Not everything.

And if one of those focus areas is “finally get our SQL Server environment to a place where I’m confident, not just hopeful,” let’s talk. That’s exactly what we help institutions do.

If you’re a CIO wondering whether your SQL Server environment is as healthy and secure as it should be, I’d be happy to have a conversation. No sales pitch. Just two people talking candidly about database management. Schedule a time here.

The post Why Quiet Reflection Leads to Better IT Strategy Decisions appeared first on The SERO Group.

What are the benefits of enabling Query Store? While there are many technical reasons, here are my top four broad advantages to consider.

1. Free SQL Server monitoring

Your business has already paid for Query Store in the SQL Server licensing. With SQL Server 2016 and later, it is accessible at the database level. This means that for smaller shops that may not have a large enterprise environment, you don’t have to spend large sums of money to get observability from 3rd party software. Query Store’s native capture mechanisms can provide significant insight into your SQL Server’s performance, all without costing you any more money!

2. Capture foundational SQL Server performance indicators

Query Store collects the data already present in your SQL Server, displaying it in easy-to-understand graphs and reports. With Query Store, values for CPU, memory, duration, and more can be viewed based on MAX/AVG/STD Deviation metrics per query. This provides valuable insights into core metrics that shape the performance of your applications. Furthermore, this data allows your company to see not only how specific queries behaved when there was a performance problem but also to trend those queries over time to see shifts in performance.

SQL Server wait statistics are also captured and displayed in Query Store. When a query needs a resource, like CPU, or data read from disk, then a wait type is assigned to the query. These various waits affect query performance in a multitude of ways, and Query Store surfaces those performance-impacting waits for you. For example, the Query Wait Statistics report may show large bar graphs for BUFFER IO and CPU. Queries appearing in both graphs may be suffering from large table scans because of missing indexes.

Additionally, Query Store captures the query plans associated with queries. Think of query plans as the blueprint for how the query will be executed. These plans contain data about the decisions SQL Server is making about your data and how to process it. Some decisions revealed in the query plan can pinpoint performance issues. For example, query plans that regularly contain table scan operators may indicate missing indexes that force SQL Server to scan millions of rows when it only needs to retrieve a few thousand rows.

3. Talk to your vendors with data in hand

COTS vendors need to see hard data when approached with a performance problem. Query Store can provide that data. Without it, you can report a problem, but the software vendor is unlikely to consider making changes.

If you engage a DBA as a Service company, having performance data in hand will go a long way toward building a good relationship with that vendor. They will see your preparedness and be drawn to that. Also, it will allow them to solve your problem faster, and isn’t that what you really want anyway?

4. Allow your applications to take advantage of new performance features

Newer versions of SQL Server have a collection of features known as Intelligent Query Processing (IQP). Features such as memory grant feedback, degree of parallelism feedback, and more are tied into IQP. These features depend on Query Store. Without Query Store running and without using the appropriate database compatibility level, your applications are missing out on performance-enhancing features that make queries execute faster, use fewer resources, or do both at the same time.

Want to work with The SERO Group?

Want to learn more about how The SERO Group helps organizations take the guesswork out of managing their SQL Servers? Schedule a no-obligation discovery call with us to get started.

The post 4 Key Performance Benefits of Enabling Query Store appeared first on The SERO Group.

Let’s take the banking sector as a prime example—though the same risks and challenges apply to healthcare and other industries.

The 5 Biggest Costs of SQL Server Downtime for Banks + 4 Ways to Prevent It

The Financial Impact of SQL Server Downtime

Downtime in the banking sector is more than an inconvenience. It’s more than just a little blimp in operation. It’s a substantial event with financial consequences.

According to a report by Splunk, companies in the financial services industry incur an average annual loss of $152 million due to downtime. That’s a staggering figure.

Breaking Down the Costs

1. Lost Revenue: During downtime, banks are unable to process transactions, leading to immediate revenue loss. For instance, a 2016 study by the Ponemon Institute found that each minute of downtime can cost a business an average of $9,000. That’s over $500,000 per hour!  
2. Decreased Productivity: Employees rely on database access to perform their duties. When systems are down, productivity stops. This affects various departments and delays critical operations.
3. Customer Trust and Brand Reputation: Customers expect uninterrupted access to banking services. Repeated or prolonged downtime can erode trust, prompting customers to seek more reliable alternatives. 
4. Regulatory and Compliance Penalties: Financial institutions are subject to stringent regulations requiring high availability. Non-compliance due to downtime can result in fines and increased scrutiny from regulators.
5. Emergency Recovery Expenses: Addressing unplanned downtime often necessitates emergency IT interventions, which can be costly, especially if external consultants are required.

The Cost of Maintaining an In-House DBA Team

Protecting and maintaining database systems like SQL Server to the level required by the financial institution requires a specific set of skills. Banks have traditionally employed in-house Database Administrators (DBAs) to help mitigate downtime risks. However, this approach comes with its own set of challenges and expenses. Let’s look at those.

Financial Considerations:

• Salaries: According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a Senior SQL Server DBA in the United States varies, with estimates ranging from $112,000 to $153,000 per year, depending on experience and location.  
• Additional Costs: In addition to salaries, banks must account for benefits, ongoing training, and the resources required for recruitment and retention, as well as eventually replacement when another institution entices them to leave.

Operational Challenges:

• Keeping Pace with Technology: The rapid evolution of database technologies necessitates continuous learning. Ensuring that in-house teams are up-to-date can be both time-consuming and costly.

Partnering with Database Experts: A Strategic Alternative

Hiring a DBA, much less a team of DBAs, can be cost-prohibitive for many banks, especially if the bank has fewer than a dozen SQL Servers. However, critical systems such as the Core Banking Systems require elevated attention from specialized DBA professionals.

A catch-22. However, there is an alternative.

Collaborating with partners provides access to skilled professional DBAs, mature DBA team processes, and monitoring and alerting toolsets required to keep a SQL Server environment healthy, secure, and reliable.

Benefits of Partnering:

• Access to Expertise: Partners like The SERO Group bring a wealth of experience and specialized knowledge, ensuring that your databases are managed using industry best practices.
• Breadth of Experience: Partners work with many different organizations and can offer insightful guidance that may not be available to an internal DBA.
• Scalability: Your SQL Server management needs will evolve as your institution grows. A trusted partner can scale services accordingly, providing flexibility without the challenges of hiring and training new staff.
• Focus on Core Competencies: By entrusting database management to professional DBAs, your internal teams can focus on strategic initiatives that drive business growth.
• Cost Efficiency: Outsourcing database management can reduce or eliminate the need for a full-time, in-house DBA team, leading to significant cost savings.

4 Proactive Measures to Prevent Downtime

Whether building an in-house DBA team or leveraging expert partners, having a proactive strategy to minimize the risk of SQL Server downtime is crucial.

Recommended Strategies:

1. Regular Health Checks: Conduct comprehensive assessments of your SQL Server environments to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before they lead to downtime. These include deep-dive Health Checks, Daily Health Checks, and regular Center for Internet Security® (CIS®) Benchmarks™ assessments.
2. Automated Monitoring: Implement tools that provide insights into database performance and configuration settings, allowing for recognition and responses to anomalies.
3. Continuous Training: Ensure that everyone involved in database management is up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices. Provide them with the resources required to keep your systems healthy, secure, and reliable.
4. Disaster Recovery Planning: Develop and regularly test disaster recovery plans to ensure quick restoration of services in the event of an outage. Ensure your plans meet your stated stakeholder Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) and Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs).

Remember that scheduled downtime is always better than unscheduled downtime.

Working with Us

The costs associated with SQL Server downtime are substantial, affecting both the financial standing and reputation of your organization. Partnering with specialized firms like us provides a cost-effective, expert solution to SQL Server management. By adopting proactive measures and leveraging external expertise, banks can significantly reduce the risk of downtime, ensuring continuous, reliable service for their customers.

Want to learn more? Schedule a no-obligation discovery call.

The post The Impact of SQL Server Downtime (and How to Prevent It) appeared first on The SERO Group.

Event details: GBA Operations and Technology Conference

February 26-28, 2025
The DeSoto, Savannah, GA
Want to register? Sign up here.

What You’ll Learn at the Conference

The GBA Operations and Technology Conference isn’t just about networking—it’s a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the latest trends shaping banking technology. With sessions covering cybersecurity best practices, fintech partnerships, vendor risk management, and payments innovation, attendees will walk away with actionable strategies to improve operational efficiency and security.

For financial institutions managing mission-critical data in SQL Server, staying ahead of these trends is crucial. As technology evolves and regulations tighten, banks must ensure their database environments are secure, compliant, and optimized for performance. That’s where The SERO Group comes in—we’ll be there to discuss best practices, answer your questions, and provide expert guidance tailored to your institution’s needs.

Would you like a dedicated time to chat with our team at the event? Contact us today to schedule a quick meeting!

Why visit our booth?

Stop by our booth to enter our raffle, grab a free gift, or chat about how The SERO Group can support your banking technology needs. We help financial institutions keep their SQL Server environments secure, reliable, and efficient—whether you’re tackling security, compliance, or performance challenges.

Can’t make it to the event? Connect with us for a call.

If you won’t be at the event, we’d still love to connect! Schedule a free, no-obligation discovery call to see how we can support your organization in 2025.

The post Visit Us at the Georgia Bankers Association Operations and Technology Conference! appeared first on The SERO Group.

Whether you’re a SQL Server DBA, IT team leader, or senior executive, I hope you’ll find these books interesting or insightful.

So, here are the four best business books I read in 2024.

Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

In Working Genius, Patrick Lencioni introduces a model that helps individuals and teams understand their natural talents and areas of frustration in the workplace. By understanding and aligning their work with their strengths, individuals and teams can increase productivity, reduce burnout, and achieve greater fulfillment.

• The Six Types of Genius: Each person has two areas of natural talent (genius), two areas of competence, and two areas of frustration. Recognizing these can lead to better self-awareness and job satisfaction.
• Genius Categories: The six types include Wonder (asking big questions), Invention (creating ideas), Discernment (evaluating ideas), Galvanizing (rallying people), Enablement (providing support), and Tenacity (ensuring completion).
• Team Balance: Effective teams include all six areas of genius. A lack of diversity in these strengths can lead to inefficiencies, frustration, and unmet goals.
• Self-Awareness Improves Work: Knowing your strengths and frustrations helps you focus on tasks that energize you and delegate or collaborate on tasks that don’t.

The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lemmington

In The 12 Week Year, the authors share their productivity system. They claim that with it, you can achieve more in 12 weeks than most people do in 12 months by shortening the planning and execution cycle. The shorter cycle creates a sense of urgency and focus that drives consistent action. Instead of setting yearly goals, the authors encourage breaking them into manageable, time-bound objectives to achieve results faster. They also highlight the importance of clarity, accountability, and measurement to stay on track.

• Shorter Time Frames Lead to Focus: 12-week cycles eliminate the complacency that comes with annual goals and maintain high levels of focus and urgency.
• Clarity Drives Success: Clearly defining goals and breaking them into actionable weekly tasks ensures alignment and progress.
• Measurement Matters: Regularly tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) allows you to track progress and adjust if needed.
• Accountability is Key: Sharing your goals with an accountability partner or creating team metrics creates positive external pressure to stay committed.

Leading Growth by Anthony Iannarino

Anthony Iannarino is known for his work and writing in sales and sales leadership. In Leading Growth, he highlights leadership’s role in fostering a growth culture and building high-performing sales teams. He also emphasizes aligning strategies with customer needs to drive sustainable success. The book outlines strategies for overcoming common challenges in sales, including unproductive behaviors, lack of alignment, and ineffective leadership practices. All of these apply to non-sales teams, too.

• Leadership Drives Sales Growth: A strong sales team requires a leader who sets clear expectations, fosters accountability, and motivates team members to excel.
• Client-Centric Approach: Aligning sales strategies with customer needs builds trust and long-term partnerships, which are critical for sustained growth.
• Overcoming Challenges: Leaders must address unproductive habits and inefficiencies within their teams to unlock higher levels of performance.
• Culture Matters: A growth-oriented culture encourages innovation, collaboration, and resilience, driving both individual and team success.

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell

In Buy Back Your Time, Dan Martell introduces a powerful framework to help entrepreneurs and leaders reclaim their time by strategically outsourcing tasks and focusing on high-value activities. Martell argues that time is your most valuable asset, and by “buying it back,” you can create more freedom, reduce stress, and scale your business effectively. The book offers advice on identifying tasks to delegate, building systems for efficiency, and prioritizing what matters most.

• Time is Your Most Valuable Asset: By identifying and offloading low-value tasks, you can focus on activities that drive growth and bring personal fulfillment.
• The Buyback Loop: Martell outlines a repeatable system: audit your time, determine what to delegate, and reinvest the freed-up hours into strategic priorities.
• Delegate, Don’t Abdicate: Effective delegation requires clear instructions, the right people, and systems to ensure tasks are completed to your standards.
• Focus on Your Zone of Genius: Spend your time on activities where you excel and create the most value, leaving other tasks to those better suited to handle them.

Your Thoughts?

Have you read any of these books? What was the best book you read last year? I’d love to hear about your thoughts on LinkedIn or just by email.

What’s Next?

If you manage SQL Servers and want to learn how The SERO Group supports clients, let’s have a conversation. We help keep SQL Servers secure, reliable, and running smoothly. Let’s schedule some time to talk.

Just For Fun

By the way, here are some of my favorite fiction and non-fiction books that I read in 2024.

• West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
• Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz
• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
• A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage
• Nancy Wake: World War II’s Most Rebellious Spy by Russell Bradden

The post The Best Business Books I Read in 2024 appeared first on The SERO Group.

The holiday season is a time for reflection and connection, and we sincerely hope it brings you peace, happiness, and moments of rest. As we look ahead to 2025, we wish you continued success, health, and joy in all that you do!

Thank you for being part of our community. Here’s to a wonderful holiday season and an exciting new year ahead!

The post Cheers to a Joyful Holiday and a Bright New Year appeared first on The SERO Group.

Direct and Indirect Costs of a SQL Server Estate

The costs associated with your SQL Server environment can be divided into two broad categories: direct and indirect costs.

Direct costs

The direct costs associated with a SQL Server estate include:

1. Licensing fees for SQL Server and related software
2. Hardware expenses, including servers and storage
3. Maintenance and support contracts
4. Energy consumption and data center costs
5. Cloud costs associated with VMs, Managed Instances, and Azure SQL Databases or RDS instances

Indirect costs

Indirect costs are harder to quantify but can be just as significant as direct costs. These may include:

1. Database administration and management time
2. Downtime and lost productivity when something goes wrong
3. Security risks and compliance issues
4. Opportunity costs associated with delayed projects and initiatives

A typical scenario

The direct and indirect costs can add up quickly. Here’s a typical scenario.

A company has five SQL Server VMs in Microsoft Azure and two older VMs in a rack in the old server room. Over the past year, performance has deteriorated on two SQL Server VM instances in Azure, so the system administrator who takes care of the SQL Servers added more memory and CPU. The other three SQL instances in Azure seem to be running fine without any perceivable performance issues. The two local SQL instances are primarily used for historical purposes. They are past extended support.

Can we reduce the direct and indirect costs of managing the company’s SQL estate?

Probably.

8 ways to reduce the cost of a SQL Server estate

So, let’s look at ways to reduce the cost of a SQL Server estate. This is not an exhaustive list. But it’s a good starting point as you evaluate your SQL Server environment. These are in no particular order.

1. Server Consolidation

Does the company have the right number of SQL Servers? Could they reduce the number of SQL Servers in their estate through consolidation?

Consolidating multiple SQL Server instances onto fewer, more powerful servers can reduce hardware and licensing costs. It can also reduce the number of SQL Server instances that must be managed, patched, etc.

A SQL Server consolidation effort involves:

• Assessing your current SQL Server utilization for underused resources
• Combining compatible workloads onto shared servers
• Right-sizing servers for the consolidated workloads

Scenario: In this scenario, look at the three VM SQL instances. Perhaps the company can consolidate two VMs into one SQL instance, reducing the number of Azure VMs by one. Perhaps some or all databases can be moved to Azure SQLDBs instead?

2. Right-Size Your Servers

Planning for future growth is good; however, it should be balanced with the cost of supporting your current workload. This is especially true when the SQL Server instances are in the cloud, where compute charges can add up quickly.

Overprovisioning can lead to unnecessary expenses. Ensure your SQL Servers are properly sized for their current workloads.

• Monitor server performance and utilization
• Identify bottlenecks and areas for performance optimization
• Adjust server resources (CPU, memory, storage) accordingly
• Plan for future growth

Scenario: The company can assess the current workload of the VMs. Are they overprovisioned? Can the resources be reduced without affecting performance? Perhaps they can go from 32 cores to 16 on one of the VMs?

3. Choose the Right Licensing Model

SQL Server licensing can be expensive, so it’s important to get it right for your workloads and environment. Select the most cost-effective licensing option for your organization.

• Core-based licensing vs CAL-based for smaller workloads
• Subscription-based models to help with predictable costs
• Enterprise Agreement (EA) for large-scale deployments
• Consider Software Assurance benefits

For more information about SQL licensing, check out Microsoft’s page on SQL Server 2022 pricing and licensing. If you’re uncertain about your licensing options, consider consulting a licensing expert. They may be able to save you some money.

Scenario: If the company is looking to upgrade its SQL environment, other licensing options may be available to reduce its licensing spend.

4. Implement Database Compression

Large databases can be costly. They can consume a lot of storage space. They can also frequently have performance issues.

SQL Server compression can help with both of these. It can lower your hardware costs by reducing storage costs, and improve performance by reducing overall disk I/O.

• Use built-in compression features
• Consider SQL Server columnstore compression

Scenario: Depending on the type and amount of data being stored in the databases, compression could help reduce storage space and improve performance.

5. Monitor and Optimize Performance

Poorly designed queries and inappropriate indexing can lead to more than just unhappy users. They can add direct costs to your SQL Servers estates.

Before adding additional resources to solve your performance issues, look for performance tuning and optimization opportunities. By adding an index, rewriting a query, or adjusting the database schema, you may dramatically improve the response times.

Regular performance monitoring helps identify areas for improvement.

• Use built-in monitoring tools (e.g., SQL Server Management Studio)
• Implement third-party monitoring solutions
• Analyze query performance, indexing, and resource utilization
• Adjust configuration and indexing as needed

Scenario: The system administrator recently added resources to the Azure VM to alleviate performance problems. A performance analysis may identify opportunities to improve performance by tuning some queries, adding indexing, or changing the database schemas. If so, the company could dial back down the resources for the VMs and reduce Azure spending. A SQL Health Check could also reveal that settings such as file growth, MAXDOP, or Cost Threshold for Parallelism aren’t set approximately.

6. Automate Routine Tasks

Regularly maintaining your database is important. Updating statistics, performing and testing backups, applying updates, and other maintenance can and should be scripted and automated when possible. This helps reduce administration time and reduces the likelihood of mistakes.

• Use built-in automation tools (e.g., SQL Server Agent)
• Script routine tasks using PowerShell or T-SQL
• Schedule tasks and monitor execution

Scenario: By reviewing the maintenance jobs, the company may find that statistics are not updated regularly. While looking at scheduled jobs, they should also confirm that backups that support their RTO’s and RPO’s are happening.

7. Consider Cloud Migration

This one is not necessarily a gimme. Not every workload runs better or less expensively in the cloud. But, in some situations, you can experience direct and/or indirect cost savings by moving your workloads to the cloud.

Migrating to cloud-based SQL Server solutions offers scalability and cost savings.

• Assess cloud readiness and compatibility
• Choose a cloud provider (e.g., Azure, AWS)
• Consider managed database services (e.g., Azure SQL Database)
• Plan for data migration and security

By implementing these strategies, organizations can significantly reduce costs, improve efficiency, and drive business growth.

Scenario: To simplify its SQL estate, as well as potentially save costs, the company should consider its on-prem SQL Server instances. Can some of the databases be archived and decommissioned? Can they be moved to Azure?

8. Work with a partner

System administrators and developers are smart and resourceful. However, keeping a SQL Server estate healthy, secure, and reliable requires a specific skill set—one that Database Administrators uniquely develop. Additionally, every hour a system administrator spends maintaining or troubleshooting a SQL Server estate is an hour they have been pulled away from their primary duties, creating an opportunity cost.

• Identify a SQL Server partner who has a deep level of SQL Server expertise at a fraction of the cost of a full-time DBA
• Leverage their DBA Team as a Service to help keep SQL Server healthy, reliable, and secure
• View the partner as an extension of your team

Scenario: In the example, the company can eliminate the split focus of its system administrator, identify and implement cost reduction strategies, and leverage a team of dedicated professional DBAs to manage its SQL Server estate.

Want to learn more?

Want to learn more about how SEROShield helps organizations keep their SQL Servers healthy, reliable, and secure? Let’s talk. Schedule a no-obligation discovery call with us.

The post 8 Ways to Reduce the Cost of a SQL Server Estate appeared first on The SERO Group.

Let’s dive into some of the major risks you might face while managing your SQL Server estate. We’ll also explore some practical ways to mitigate those risks and keep your SQL Server estate running smoothly and securely.

Six Common Business Risks in a SQL Server Estate

Risk 1: Data Breaches

Data breaches are an obvious and constant threat. Hardly a day goes by without a security incident or data breach making the news. A single successful attack can expose sensitive information, damage your company’s reputation, and lead to hefty fines or lawsuits.

Securing your SQL Server estate is essential, and securing the perimeter is not enough. The best security is multi-layered.

To fortify your SQL Server defenses:

• Implement strong access controls and use multi-factor authentication.
• Regularly update and patch your SQL Server instances.
• Encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit.
• Conduct regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities.
• Train your teams on security best practices and the importance of data protection.

Risk 2: Disaster Recovery

Disasters happen. Sometimes large-scale events like a tornado, flood, or a disruption to your cloud provider’s region may affect your business. Sometimes disasters are more localized, like a hypervisor or operating system crash.

Regardless, without access to your data, operations can be significantly hampered or even completely offline. So, being prepared to quickly recover from such events is crucial for business continuity.

To improve your disaster recovery readiness:

• Develop and regularly update a comprehensive disaster recovery plan.
• Regularly test your disaster recovery procedures to identify and address any weaknesses.
• Consider cloud-based disaster recovery solutions for added flexibility and reliability.
• Ensure your team is well-trained on disaster recovery procedures and their individual roles.
• Implement high availability solutions like clustering or Always On Availability Groups.

Risk 3: Data Loss and Corruption

A common misconception is that data loss or corruption isn’t really an issue anymore. It is.

Database corruption can still happen. Users with higher levels of access can still accidentally delete needed data. And bad actors can still gain access to key systems and encrypt everything. And the results can be painful.

To protect your valuable data:

• Implement a robust backup strategy with regular backups stored securely off-site.
• Test your backups regularly to ensure they can be successfully restored.
• Implement change tracking and auditing to quickly identify and rectify data issues.
• Educate users about the importance of data integrity and proper data handling procedures.
• Use log shipping or Always On Availability Groups for critical databases.

Risk 4: Compliance and Regulatory Issues

Who has elevated permissions to your SQL Server estate? You’ll want to know and review that list regularly. When were users created and given access? When was the access removed? These are good questions to ask and answer, but that may not be enough.

If your company operates in a regulated industry or geographical location, you may be subject to regulatory requirements such as GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and others. Ensuring your SQL Server estate complies with relevant laws is crucial. Non-compliance can result in significant fines and legal headaches.

To navigate the complex world of data regulations:

• Stay informed about regulations that apply to your industry and data types.
• Implement data masking and row-level security to protect sensitive information.
• Cleanse data that is copied to lower-level systems such as dev, test, and QA.
• Regularly audit your compliance efforts and maintain detailed documentation.
• Use SQL Server’s built-in compliance features, such as Transparent Data Encryption and SQL Audit.
• Consider working with compliance experts to ensure you’re meeting all requirements.

Risk 5: Performance Issues

Poorly performing SQL Servers are more than just an annoying inconvenience. They can frustrate users, drive away customers, and affect your company’s bottom line. As the amount of data in your SQL Server estate grows, maintaining optimal performance becomes increasingly challenging.

To keep your SQL Servers running at top speed:

• Create a performance baseline.
• Regularly monitor performance metrics to identify bottlenecks.
• Optimize queries and indexing strategies.
• Implement proper capacity planning and scaling.
• Consider upgrading hardware or moving to cloud-based solutions when necessary.

Risk 6: Talent Shortage

SQL Server is a robust and reliable database platform. However, to achieve peak performance, reliability, and security, it must be regularly maintained. However, finding, recruiting, and retaining skilled SQL Server professionals can be a significant (and expensive) challenge.

To address this talent risk internally:

• Invest in ongoing training and professional development for your existing team.
• Create a positive work environment that encourages growth and job satisfaction.
• Offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to attract and retain top talent.
• Utilize managed services or cloud solutions to supplement your in-house expertise.
• If you rely on an Accidental DBA, provide them with the resources needed to succeed.

Managing Your SQL Server Estate

Managing a SQL Server estate is no small feat, but with the right strategies and precautions, you can significantly reduce your risks and keep your data operations running smoothly. Remember, it’s not about eliminating all risks – that’s nearly impossible. Instead, focus on identifying, understanding, and mitigating these risks to the best of your ability.

Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. Don’t hesitate to leverage external expertise when needed, whether it’s for specialized tasks, security audits, or strategic planning. With the right approach and resources, you can turn these challenges into opportunities to showcase the true value of a well-managed SQL Server environment.

Want to work with The SERO Group?

Want to learn more about how The SERO Group helps organizations manage their SQL Server estates? Schedule a no-obligation discovery call.

The post Reducing Business Risks for a SQL Server Estate appeared first on The SERO Group.

The answer is not simple.

Data roles are diverse and constantly evolving. Similarly, the lines that separate data disciplines are inherently blurred. The reality faced by active data professionals is also complex, with business and project requirements often requiring them to extend their expertise across disciplines. Consequently, data professionals often wear many hats.

Still, it’s useful for those entering the field or looking to hire a data professional to understand some of the important distinctions between data disciplines.

Here are just a few.

Common Data Roles

Data Architect

Data architects design the overall blueprint for your organization’s data environment. They define how data is stored, organized, integrated, and accessed across systems. They also ensure that your data infrastructure is scalable, secure, architected for efficient retrieval, and aligns with your long-term business goals.

Database Administrator (DBA)

DBAs are the administrators of your database systems. They possess a deep knowledge of the database engine itself, including all its native functionality and features. They are also responsible for keeping databases updated, backed up, secure, and performing optimally. DBAs also manage database upgrades and migrations, as well as database recovery in a disaster or emergency.

Data Engineer

Think of data engineers as the builders of your data infrastructure. They design, construct, and maintain the pipelines that collect, store, and process your data. Their toolkit is diverse and often includes programming languages like Python and SQL. It is also common to leverage cloud platforms like Azure, AWS, or GCP. These professionals ensure that your data is accessible, reliable, and ready for analysis.

Data Analyst / Business Intelligence Analyst

Data analysts are the storytellers of the data world. They take the data that engineers have prepared and draw out insights through creating reports, dashboards, and visualizations. Furthermore, their strong analytical skills and ability to recognize patterns allow them to turn data into knowledge. They tell stories with data to help guide decisions. Tools often include Excel and BI reporting platforms like Tableau or Power BI.

Data Scientist

Data scientists take analytics to a deeper level. They use advanced statistical techniques and machine learning to uncover hidden patterns that are often difficult for humans to detect. Similarly, the algorithms used by data scientists can predict future trends, and the outputs of their models are used to drive decision-making. Data scientists possess mathematical expertise, programming skills in languages like Python or R, and domain knowledge relevant to their industry.

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine learning engineers take the models created by data scientists and make them operational in real-world production environments. They leverage both data science and software engineering skills. ML engineers are responsible for building the systems that deploy, monitor, and scale data science models. They also manage these systems to ensure that they deliver accurate and timely predictions once deployed in a real-world context.

Tips for Choosing Your Future Data Role

Shadowing some different data professionals is a great way to get started. Depending on which role appeals to you, there are different pathways to getting started.

If you have a background in system administration, data architecture and database administration may be good avenues to investigate. Likewise, people who have enjoyed building their own home labs may also enjoy these data roles.

Similarly, if you love automation and problem-solving for technical efficiency, one of the engineering roles may be right for you. Engineers enjoy designing and building solutions for technical challenges.

Finally, if you have a mind for analytics and statistics, an analyst or data science role may be a great fit. These roles uncover the root causes of the problems under investigation in order to unlock potential solutions.

There are a variety of ways to kick-start your journey for any of these data disciplines.

1. Self-Education. There are many resources available online that can guide you through learning specialized skills. Set up a home lab environment in which to safely practice. Start to build a profile of projects and/or certifications that can showcase your new skills.
2. Bootcamps. The number and variety of bootcamps for data have increased dramatically in the last 5 years. If your schedule allows for participation in one of these intense programs, they can be a great way to upskill rapidly.
3. Formal education. If you are looking to go into a highly specialized role in a particular knowledge domain or industry, obtaining an advanced degree can be a great way to get started.

Determining which path to take will depend on what appeals to you and on the circumstances in which you are beginning your journey. The key, however, is just taking the first step.

Tips for Hiring: Which Data Role Do You Need?

Just as the path to becoming a data professional depends on individual circumstances, the type of data professional to hire will also depend on your organization’s needs and where you are in your data maturity journey.

Here are some hiring considerations for several common scenarios:

Just Starting Out

If you are building your data capabilities from the ground up, a data engineer with versatile skills is a great first hire. While partnering with system administrators and business experts, as well as potentially seeking external assistance from a DBA or data architect, a data engineer can lay the foundation for your future data work.

Business Optimization / Improved Operations

If you are looking to use your data for improved operations, a data or business intelligence analyst can work with business partners to track key metrics, identify trends, and drive data-driven decisions to find ways to improve. Likewise, by developing an understanding of the business, this person can work as a bridge between business and IT teams to help harness the full potential of your data.

Complex or Outdated Data Environment

A data architect can bring order to chaos by ensuring that your data is well-organized, accessible, and scalable as your organization grows and expands. Data architects can also be instrumental in reshaping legacy structures to meet current business requirements and make the best use of modern technologies.

Predictive Insights and Automation

Data scientists and machine learning engineers are ideal for building models that can make important predictions, optimize processes, and/or automate complex AI tasks. It is important to note, however, that having a robust, well-governed data infrastructure is a prerequisite for success for these types of initiatives.

Diverse Needs, Large-Scale Projects, or Complex Remediation

Partnering with an external data team with diverse areas of expertise can be an affordable way to: remediate complex problems, make infrastructure improvements rapidly, or design and implement large-scale solutions. Leveraging this type of support also allows you to access professionals with expertise in different data roles and may offer flexibility for scaling up or scaling down your level of support as needed.

Want to work with The SERO Group?

Want to learn more about how SERO Group helps organizations take the guesswork out of managing their SQL estate? Schedule a no-obligation discovery call with us to get started.

The post What’s in a Job Title? Understanding Changing Data Roles appeared first on The SERO Group.

The risks of delaying code analysis

Delaying an analysis of code compatibility is surprisingly common for businesses undertaking a migration to the cloud. Early cost-benefit analyses often address the hardware and infrastructure changes involved but can sometimes neglect to consider the impact of required code changes.

Infrastructure concerns are critical considerations when evaluating a move to the cloud. However, limiting our analysis to these considerations may hide the costs and risks associated with any necessary re-engineering. Unfortunately, it is very possible for these hidden risks and costs to turn out to be deal-breakers. To avoid a sticky situation, learn about these factors up front before investing time and energy into migration preparations.

Azure options: SQL VM vs. Managed Instance vs. SQL Database

It is important to note that a “move to the cloud” can come in many forms. Some examples are migrations to a hybrid environment, “lift and shift” moves to Azure-hosted VMs or SQL Managed Instances (SQL MI), or full or partial migrations to multi-tenant Azure SQL Databases (SQL DB). You will need to know what type of migration is being considered before evaluating code changes since the different options have different levels of compatibility with SQL Server.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the options in Azure with SQL Server compatibility.

IaaS Option

SQL Server on an Azure VM
Since this option constitutes a full installation of SQL Server on a dedicated Azure-hosted virtual machine, there are no code or feature incompatibilities to be concerned about. Azure SQL VMs achieve complete feature parity with on-premises SQL environments. With this option, the primary difference between the Azure implementation and an on-premises installation is the management of the underlying server.

PaaS Options

Azure SQL Managed Instance
SQL MI boasts “near 100% compatibility” with the latest Enterprise Edition of the SQL Server database engine, while still including automated backups, patching, and high availability of the SQL environment. This option uses a single-tenant database engine intended to enable the least disruptive migration from an on-premises or Azure-hosted SQL Server instance to a full PaaS environment. This means that many of the incompatibilities that exist with Azure SQL Database are minimized or eliminated with Azure SQL MI. However, functionality that requires access to the file system or OS is still impacted.

Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL DB is another fully managed PaaS option consisting of a multi-tenant database engine that is optimized for cloud-native applications. While this option is generally less expensive than Azure SQL MI, there is less overlap with SQL Server and greater potential for code or data flow incompatibilities.

10 Common Incompatibilities

There are several very helpful tools (see the “Resources and tools” section below) that can help you identify data flow issues prior to migration. As you go through your analysis, keep in mind that Microsoft has established workarounds for a good number of these incompatibilities, so their presence in your code does not necessarily mean they are a barrier to migration.

For a high-level overview, here are some of the most common sticking points we see for migrating SQL code. The differences between SQL MI and SQL DB are included where applicable, as well as some potential workarounds.

1. Uses linked servers

Linked servers can be used in SQL MI to access SQL Server and Azure SQL Databases without distributed transactions. SQL DB requires the use of elastic queries instead.

2. Performs cross-database queries or transactions

These are supported with SQL MI, but not with SQL DB. In SQL DB, cross-database queries may be able to be converted to elastic queries.

3. Uses Database Mail

This is available for SQL MI but not SQL DB. There are workarounds available for sending email in the Azure platform, but they will require some re-engineering.

4. Uses system tables, views, functions, or stored procedures

Some system objects are available in both SQL MI and SQL DB but not all. Consult Microsoft’s documentation for a full comparison of what is available.

One important note is that the amount of space available to tempdb is provisioned in both SQL MI and SQL DB based on the number of cores available and the service tier licensed. Consult the documentation of each for details.

5. Accesses Windows command line or file system

Neither SQL MI nor SQL DB supports direct access to the file system or the Windows command line.

One workaround is to migrate files to Azure Blob Storage or Azure Files. For SQL MI, with the appropriate security and firewall configurations, it is also possible to establish connectivity between your Managed Instance’s VNet and the location of an on-premises file share.

SQL MI also supports SSISDB configuration and the Integration Services Catalog, allowing SSIS packages to be used for file manipulation. Azure Data Factory can also be leveraged to load and transform files for both SQL MI and SQL DB. An Azure-SSIS Integration Runtime (IR) can be installed and configured, and SSIS packages can be run directly from Azure Data Factory.

6. Uses change data capture (CDC)

Change data capture is supported for SQL MI. It is also supported for SQL DB, but only in the S3 service tier and above.

7. Uses BULK INSERT or OPENROWSET

BULK INSERT and OPENROWSET are only supported from a supported Azure file source (e.g.: Azure Blob Storage or Azure Files).

8. Uses .NET Framework: common language runtime (CLR)

CLR support is not available for SQL DB, but it is available in SQL MI with some important differences.

9. SQL Server Agent

SQL Server Agent is not available in SQL DB, and elastic jobs should be used instead. In SQL MI, SQL Server Agent is supported with important differences.

10. Uses semantic search

Full-text semantic search is not available in either SQL MI or SQL DB.

Other important things to remember when migrating to a PaaS environment

• High availability: Since high availability is included in the PaaS offerings, SQL Server functionality and syntax connected with Always On Availability Groups is not supported.
• Maintenance: Updates, patches, backups, and restores are likewise managed automatically in the PaaS offerings. Therefore, associated T-SQL syntax will not work in SQL DB and will be different for SQL MI.
• Credential management: Windows authentication is not supported in SQL DB, and is replaced by Windows Authentication for Microsoft Entra in SQL MI.
• Collation: Catalog collation is set when an instance (SQL MI) or a database (SQL DB) is created, and it cannot be changed afterwards.

Resources and tools

I hope this provided you with a jump-start for thinking about whether your SQL Server code is Azure-ready.

Here are a few more resources and tools that can help you take the next steps toward a full compatibility analysis:

• Data Migration Assistant – Microsoft’s robust tool for enabling database compatibility assessments, recommendations, and migration assistance.
• Azure Migrate – this service can be used as a start-to-finish hub for planning and facilitating a cloud migration.
• Pro Database Migration to Azure – An excellent and comprehensive book covering the best practices for successful on-premises migrations to the Azure cloud platform.

Want to learn more?

Want to learn more about how The SERO Group helps organizations prepare for a SQL Server cloud migration? Schedule a call and let’s talk.

The post Is your SQL Server Code Ready for Azure? appeared first on The SERO Group.