Before You Go Down The Rabbit Hole

Effects of a Full SQL Server Transaction Log, Error 9002 and Why Understanding The Application Matters When Troubleshooting

One of my favorite topics in SQL Server is transaction log internals. When I first got started with SQL Server, I thought all I needed to do with the transaction log was to run regular log backups to make sure they don’t grow unexpectedly. Until I realized that there was more to it than I knew. […]

The Truth About SQL Server Backup Verification Using The GUI

Why You Shouldn't Just Rely On The Checkbox That Says So

I recently had a conversation with a SQL Server DBA about making sure that backups do work as expected. And while I try not to use scary tactics to convince people to change their way of thinking, this particular example needed it. I’ve written a blog post about why I don’t trust the “Verify backup […]

Why Your Job Really Matters Today

And Why You Need To Constantly Sharpen The Saw

When you are surrounded by some of the smartest and brightest people in the SQL Server community, it’s like drinking from a fire hose. But the overwhelming feeling that you get from learning a lot in a very short span of time suddenly sinks in when you realize this very important message: your job as […]

Defense In Depth and Why Proactive Security Should Be Included In Every High Availability Strategy

In a previous blog post, I talked about the three key aspects of managing your databases – security, performance and availability. I call it “taking your databases to a S.P.A.” In the blog post, I referred to an infographic that Idera published about their accidental DBA survey results, highlighting how security and availability are not getting […]

How To Enable Transparent Data Encryption In An Existing SQL Server Always On Availability Group

I’ve deployed several SQL Server Always On Availability Groups in the past with high availability being the primary requirement. In some environments, there is a requirement to protect sensitive data for security and compliance reasons. Back in 2013, I had a customer who wanted to implement Always On Availability Groups for their databases. They were moving their […]