They Can Do What? – SHUTDOWN

Many times the DBA is faced with the dilemma of granting excessive access to an application or user so it can ‘just work’. This can cause a lot of problems. There are commands that can be given from T-SQL that can do a lot of damage to your systems and reputation. We’re not talking about simple things like drop table, …

How Many SQL Log Files Do You Keep?

Ever have this happen? You (on vacation): I’ll have another piña colada please. Yes, in the coconut. Thanks! Hmm, my phone is ringing…..Hello? Work: There are problems! The database is messing up and being really slow! : Well, email me the latest log file from SQL Server and I’ll take a look. : We sent the latest one to you. …

Is Your Data secure?

Quickly Check If SSL For SQL Is Enabled

To quickly check SSL is configured on your SQL Server you can run the following query. SELECT session_id, encrypt_option FROM sys.dm_exec_connections This query dumps the information about the connections to your SQL Server and any of them using a secured connection will have a ‘True’ value in the encrypt_option column. What if you don’t see any SSL secured connections? If …

Shot DB

Can an EKM Save The World of Data?

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will guard the guards themselves? – Latin Let’s talk a little about how data is most commonly leaked from a database. The user. Now to be really frank and honest, there is not much we can really do about loss of data via that method, other than getting a lot more strict with how we …

How long in your data?

Data Size – LEN() vs DATALENGTH()

  No. It isn’t just the way you use your data that counts, the data size counts too Ok, let’s get talk a little about some SQL Server basics. Specifically a couple of useful T-SQL functions. Let’s talk about determining the ‘size’ of your data in a field. There are 2 functions in SQL Server to help with this. LEN() …

Don't burn out!

Gimme A Break! Taking Mental Health Days

  Burnout! You have been stressing over the big project you have to get done. You get in early Monday morning, pour yourself a mug of coffee and stumble to your desk. You start up your system, and get notice that it has 5,476 security patches to apply due to the recent breach at your insurance provider. You can’t do …