Stedman SQL Server Podcast

In this episode, Mitchell Glasscock and George Stedman discuss the situations they have been faced with starting as Junior DBA's and gaining knowledge and tips over the years. They explain the top 5 tips and tricks to make sure you don't make the same mistakes that they have encountered. Check out this last podcast of Database Health Monitor Month! If you're seeing these issues in production and need experienced SQL Server specialists, Stedman Solutions' Managed Services team continuously monitors SQL Servers using Database Health Monitor and helps customers resolve performance, corruption, backup, and availability issues before they become outages, find out how we can help at StedmanSolutions.com

Steve Stedman and Mitchell Glasscock discuss the Query Loading Ramp feature of Database Health Monitor, a tool for load testing SQL queries. They demonstrate running a load test with 400 sessions, simulating real-world traffic, and identify performance issues. The test reveals that 3 out of 17,000 queries failed, with an average query time of 46 milliseconds. Adding an index significantly improves performance, increasing throughput to 14,000 queries per second. They also show how to run load tests in headless mode and emphasize the importance of regular monitoring to maintain optimal SQL Server performance.

Steve Stedman and his team discuss the evolution of Database Health Monitor from its inception in 2011 to its current state. Initially developed using SSRS reports, DHM transitioned to a standalone desktop application by 2014. Key features include the SQL Performance Viewer, Job History Report, Disk I/O Over Time Report, and Schema Search. In 2025, DHM version 3 introduced licensing, the DB Analyzer, and new reports. Pricing starts at $10/month for single server monitoring, making it affordable compared to competitors. The team emphasizes user feedback in shaping future developments.

Steve Stedman discusses analyzing SQL Server execution plans and features in Database Health Monitor that aid in this task. He explains that execution plans are SQL Server's roadmap for query execution, detailing how SQL Server will execute a query, including index usage and data sorting. Stedman differentiates between estimated and actual execution plans, noting discrepancies can indicate outdated statistics. He highlights the importance of execution plans in identifying slow queries, bad joins, and expensive operations. Database Health Monitor provides graphical representations of execution plans, making it easier to identify performance issues and optimize queries.

In this episode of the Stedman SQL Server Podcast, Steve and George Stedman compare two powerful native SQL Server options for login auditing: SQL Server Audit and Extended Events. They explain why auditing logins matters for compliance requirements such as SOX, PCI, and HIPAA, demonstrate how to configure both approaches with downloadable scripts, and discuss the pros, cons, performance impact, and data captured by each method. The episode also highlights why logging successful logins to the SQL Server error log is a poor practice, explores real-world auditing and troubleshooting scenarios, and shares best practices for long-term audit retention, security monitoring, and identifying suspicious login activity. Whether you're a DBA, developer, or security professional, this episode provides practical guidance for implementing reliable SQL Server login tracking without sacrificing performance.

The podcast episode discusses Stedman Solutions' SQL Server managed services offering, highlighting its unique approach and benefits. Key points include the team's extensive experience, the availability of multiple team members for 24/7 coverage, and the comprehensive support provided for a flat fee. The team emphasizes proactive monitoring, performance tuning, and custom optimizations. They also offer tools like Database Health Monitor and Stedman SQL School for free to managed service clients. The discussion covers the importance of backups, the risks of not having proper coverage, and the cost-effectiveness of their services compared to hiring a full-time DBA or using offshore or junior DBAs.

Steve Stedman and George discuss implicit conversions in SQL Server, highlighting their impact on performance. Steve explains that implicit conversions occur when data types don't match, forcing SQL Server to convert columns, which can slow queries significantly. They demonstrate this with examples, showing how a simple cast can reduce query times from 23,700 reads to 4 reads. They also discuss using extended events and DMVs to detect implicit conversions and provide solutions like creating views with clustered indices. The episode emphasizes the importance of choosing the right data types from the start to avoid performance issues.

In this episode of the Stedman SQL Podcast (Season 3, Episode 6), Steve Stedman is joined by Mitchell Glasscock and George Stedman to dive into the latest 2026 Q1 updates to Database Health Monitor. They break down new quality-of-life improvements like enhanced navigation with the back button history, SQL query formatting for better readability, and improved visibility into historical data updates. The team also explores powerful new Quick Scan checks, TempDB insights, email cleanup options, and major enhancements to blocking query tracking—including query plan capture for faster performance troubleshooting. Plus, they cover schema drift improvements, long-running query reporting, and new filtering capabilities across reports. If you're looking to simplify SQL Server monitoring and boost performance tuning efficiency, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world examples you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of the Stedman SQL Podcast (Season 3, Episode 6), Steve Stedman is joined by Mitchell Glasscock and George Stedman to dive into the latest 2026 Q1 updates to Database Health Monitor. They break down new quality-of-life improvements like enhanced navigation with the back button history, SQL query formatting for better readability, and improved visibility into historical data updates. The team also explores powerful new Quick Scan checks, TempDB insights, email cleanup options, and major enhancements to blocking query tracking—including query plan capture for faster performance troubleshooting. Plus, they cover schema drift improvements, long-running query reporting, and new filtering capabilities across reports. If you're looking to simplify SQL Server monitoring and boost performance tuning efficiency, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world examples you won’t want to miss.

Steve Stedman and Mitchell Glasscock discuss the seven deadly sins of index and statistics maintenance in SQL Server. They highlight common mistakes such as blindly rebuilding or reorganizing all indexes nightly, adhering to outdated 5% and 30% fragmentation rules, and wasting resources on tiny indexes. They emphasize the importance of focusing on statistics over fragmentation, using customized OLA Hallengren scripts, and avoiding over-indexing. They also warn against running aggressive maintenance during peak hours and blindly trusting third-party tools like SQL Server Maintenance Plans and Database Tuning Advisor. The discussion underscores the need for evidence-based maintenance practices to optimize SQL Server performance.

Steve Stedman and Mitchell Glasscock discuss SQL Server upgrades, comparing in-place upgrades versus new server migrations. They highlight the importance of upgrading due to end-of-life security risks, such as SQL Server 2016's July cutoff. In-place upgrades are quicker but riskier, with potential downtime and limited rollback options. New server migrations offer lower risk, more testing, and better rollback mechanisms but are costlier and time-consuming. They recommend the latter for mission-critical systems and those moving to the cloud. Best practices include thorough testing, backup plans, and considering hardware refreshes. They also promote their tool, Database Health Monitor, for migration assistance.

In this episode of the Stedman SQL Podcast (Season 3, Episode 3), Steve Stedman and Mitchell Glasscock introduce the new Database Health Monitor Rewards Program, launched with Version 3 of Database Health Monitor. They explain how paid subscribers can unlock exclusive monthly rewards—including free SQL Server training courses like Aggregating Data, JOIN Types, and the T-SQL OUTPUT Clause, plus a 20-minute personalized configuration session with the Stedman team. As subscribers continue their membership, additional benefits roll out over time, such as advanced courses on blocking and deadlocking, indexing for performance, backups and recovery, common table expressions, performance tuning, and even one-on-one mentoring. The episode highlights how the rewards program turns a Database Health Monitor subscription into ongoing SQL Server education and professional growth, while helping DBAs and developers proactively monitor performance, avoid bottlenecks, and keep their SQL Servers running healthy and fast. They also preview the next episode on the “Seven Deadly Sins of Index and Statistics Maintenance” and encourage listeners to upgrade to Version 3 to take full advantage of the new rewards.

Welcome to the Stedman SQL Podcast Season 3, Episode 2, hosted by Steve Stedman and joined by Mitchell Glasscock from the Stedman Solutions team, where we dive into “5 Things You Should Never Do with SQL Server (Plus 2 Bonus Items)” and explain how common but dangerous practices like shrinking databases, clearing the procedure cache, using REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS, blindly trusting the Database Tuning Advisor, and running sp_updatestats can seriously impact performance or cause data loss, along with two bonus mistakes around auto-growth and auto-shrink that we see far too often in the real world; we share expert insights, real-world examples, safer alternatives, while also previewing what’s coming next on the podcast and how Database Health Monitor and Stedman Solutions Managed Services help keep SQL Server environments healthy and reliable.

Steve Stedman and Shannon Lindsay discuss SQL Server security and performance improvements for the new year. They highlight a 16% discount for new managed service customers and emphasize the importance of enforcing the principle of least privilege, implementing data encryption, and regular patching. They recommend using SQL Server audits, extended events, and the Database Health Monitor for advanced auditing and monitoring. For performance optimization, they suggest focusing on slow queries, optimizing storage and indexing, and enhancing backup and disaster recovery strategies. They also mention new features in SQL Server 2025 and the importance of ransomware preparedness.

Database Health Monitor: All the Exciting Features Added in 2025! Join Steve Stedman and lead developer Mitchell Glasscock as they recap an incredible year of updates to Database Health Monitor, the ultimate SQL Server monitoring tool. From December's Structure Change Log (track who changed what in your databases) and Disk Space Forecast Report, to sortable timeline charts, TempDB allocation insights, enhanced drill-downs, the major Version 3 release with DB Assistant, revamped Performance Monitor, CPU by Query drill-downs, deadlock tracking, email alerting, and more—this episode covers every major enhancement that makes troubleshooting faster and proactive monitoring easier. Whether you're dealing with blocking, deadlocks, open transactions, index issues, or just want better visibility across your SQL Servers, these real-world features (built from client feedback) will transform your DBA workflow. Download Database Health Monitor today (30-day free trial) at http://DatabaseHealth.com and start using these tools on your servers!

In this episode of the Stedman SQL Podcast, Steve Stedman walks through often overlooked SQL Server configuration settings that can significantly improve performance. Topics include TempDB setup, file growth settings, alerts, index maintenance, fill factor, backup compression, RCSI, and the importance of monitoring with Database Health Monitor.

If you want to deepen your SQL Server knowledge, November is Stedman SQL School month with daily class promotions at Stedman.us/school.

Watch the episode to learn practical, high-impact adjustments you can apply to your SQL Server environment and how to monitor results using Database Health Monitor at DatabaseHealth.com.

Welcome to this week's episode of the Stedman SQL Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Glasscock and George Stedman! In this episode, they explore the latest Database Health Monitor enhancements — explaining not only what’s been added, but why these updates matter for real-world SQL Server environments. From preventing TempDB version store bloat with a new Quick Scan check, to adding open transaction visibility and command-line automation for scheduled health reports, this episode dives deep into practical DBA tools built from direct user feedback. Mitchell and George also discuss improvements to index usage tracking, historic vs. real-time performance analysis, CPU and blocking drill-down reports, and a more accurate backup status view that filters copy-only backups. Plus, they preview the upcoming TempDB allocation chart, designed to help DBAs quickly see how space is being used over time. Whether you manage SQL Server daily or just want to better understand how Database Health Monitor can simplify your DBA workflow, this episode is packed with valuable insights and tips.Learn more and download Database Health Monitor at DatabaseHealth.com

In this episode of the Stedman SQL Podcast, Steve Stedman explores one of the most essential topics in SQL Server management—backup types and retention periods. Learn the differences between full, differential, and transaction log backups, how they work together to ensure data protection, and how to determine the right retention strategy for your organization’s recovery and compliance needs. This episode provides practical insights to help DBAs, developers, and IT managers avoid data loss, reduce downtime, and maintain reliable recovery options.

In this episode of the SQL Server Podcast, Mitchell and Steve take a deep dive into the critical files that keep SQL Server running—data files, log files, and TempDB. They discuss how these files work, why their configuration matters, and common mistakes that can lead to performance bottlenecks.You’ll hear practical advice on sizing, placement, and growth settings, along with insights from real-world experiences solving SQL Server performance issues. Whether you’re a DBA, developer, or IT manager, this conversation will help you better understand how to keep your SQL Server environment healthy and efficient.

In this episode, we dive into "The Lean DBA," exploring how process improvements can streamline your workflow and boost efficiency as a database administrator. Discover time-saving SSMS tips like Block Mode Select, dragging table/column names, using "GO" for multiple query executions, and powerful hotkeys (e.g., F5, Ctrl+M, Alt+F1). Learn how to display results in a separate tab for easier viewing, set up a Ctrl+3 shortcut for quick SELECT TOP 100 queries, and use sp_help with Alt+F1. We also cover bulk indenting, displaying line numbers, and leveraging Registered Servers for multi-server queries. Plus, get insights on the Database Health Monitor’s Quickscan Report and DBAssistant. Finally, we discuss the role of AI in the DBA world—featuring tools like Grok, ChatGPT, and Copilot—and why embracing AI is crucial to stay ahead. Don’t miss these practical tips to become a leaner, more efficient DBA!

In this episode, we share the exciting release of Database Health Monitor 3.0, packed with powerful improvements to help you monitor and manage SQL Server more effectively. The new DB Assistant provides guidance and insights to simplify performance tuning. A new Job History Chart makes it easier to visualize SQL Agent job performance over time. Problem Indexes reports at both the instance and database level help you quickly identify indexing issues. The Backup Size report has been completely revamped to give clearer visibility into backup growth, while the new Database Backup Time Frames report shows when backups are running in your environment. We have also added a new Log Shipping instance report to help you monitor the health of your log shipping setup more efficiently.Alongside these new features, we are also introducing the Database Health Monitor Rewards Program. This program is our way of thanking the SQL Server community by offering exclusive benefits, early access to features, and special rewards for those who continue to support and use Database Health Monitor.Join us in this episode to learn how Database Health Monitor 3.0 can help improve your SQL Server monitoring and how you can take advantage of the new rewards program.Download Now: Databasehealth.com/download2 for your 30 day FREE trial

In this episode of the Stedman SQL Podcast, Steve Stedman shares a detailed and practical roadmap to building a successful career as a SQL Server DBA. Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance your skills, you'll learn what it takes to grow in this high-demand field.

In this episode, we dive into SQL Server Agent Jobs—one of the most essential, yet often overlooked, features in SQL Server. Whether you're running index maintenance, backups, ETL processes, or reporting routines, SQL Agent is the backbone that keeps it all running on schedule.

Steve Stedman and Mitchell Glasscock walk through how SQL Server Agent works, how to set up and schedule jobs properly, and what to watch for when jobs fail silently. You'll also hear practical strategies for logging, alerting, and maintaining job history to help you troubleshoot issues faster.

Topics include job step management, proxies and credentials, handling long-running jobs, avoiding scheduling conflicts, and real-world examples of Agent job failures that led to performance or data issues.

Plus, we’ll explain how Stedman Solutions' Managed Services ensures SQL Agent jobs are monitored and maintained properly—so you’re not waking up to missed backups or failed automation.

Steve Stedman and Shannon Lindsay discuss the importance of testing SQL Server backups weekly. Steve emphasizes the risks of untested backups, including potential data loss and longer restore times. They highlight the need for consistent testing to ensure recoverability and compliance with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR. Steve shares a case study where a 1.5 TB database was restored due to endpoint protection issues, avoiding significant downtime. They recommend automating restore processes, using tools like Database Health Monitor, and maintaining a documented runbook. Shannon suggests consulting Stedman Solutions for expert guidance on backup and recovery strategies.

Steve Stedman discusses managing SQL Server in a one-server shop without a full-time DBA. He highlights the challenges of inadequate database management, including performance slowdowns, data corruption, and security vulnerabilities. Stedman Solutions offers Database Health Monitor version 3 and managed services with experienced DBAs. He emphasizes the importance of regular backups, proactive monitoring, and disaster recovery. A real-world example shows how they improved a client's sales report performance. Stedman also addresses the high cost of hiring full-time DBAs and the benefits of managed services, including peace of mind and cost-effectiveness.

In this episode of the Stedman Solutions SQL Server Podcast, Steve Stedman and Derrick Bovenkamp explore Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) in SQL Server and its role in protecting sensitive data. Need help with TDE contact us - https://stedman.us/talktde

TDE encrypts data at rest, helping safeguard against unauthorized access to database files. It uses AES-256 encryption and is now available in SQL Server Standard Edition, making it more accessible than ever. However, TDE does not encrypt data in memory or during transmission—SSL or TLS is required for that layer of protection.Steve and Derrick walk through how to set up TDE, including creating the master key, certificate, and database encryption key. They also explain why it's essential to regularly back up these keys and certificates to ensure recoverability.They discuss performance considerations, how TDE typically does not significantly impact database size or speed, and the importance of testing changes in a non-production environment before going live.

In this episode of the SQL Server Podcast by Stedman Solutions, we take a close look at ransomware—a dangerous form of malware that encrypts your data and demands payment for its release. We explain how ransomware works, why it’s a growing threat to SQL Server environments, and what the real consequences are for businesses that aren’t properly protected.

We’ll walk through real-world examples of ransomware attacks, explore why SQL Servers are often prime targets, and reveal the hidden costs that come with recovery—even if the ransom is paid. You'll learn why standard backups are often not enough, and how a poorly tested backup plan can actually leave you worse off.

We also cover proven strategies to prevent ransomware from compromising your systems, from strengthening your backups to implementing proactive monitoring and alerting. You’ll learn how Database Health Monitor can help detect early warning signs, and how our SQL Server Managed Services provide expert, around-the-clock protection from threats like ransomware.

Whether you’re a DBA, an IT manager, or a business owner responsible for data, this episode will give you a clear roadmap for defending your SQL Server environment from one of today’s most serious cybersecurity threats.

In this episode, we dive into the top 10 most common SQL Server wait types. You'll learn what each wait type means, how it impacts performance, and what you can do to resolve the issues. From CXPACKET to PAGEIOLATCH, we make complex wait stats easier to understand and troubleshoot.

Steve Stedman and Shannon Lindsay discuss the Stedman Solutions' DBA on Vacation service, which provides temporary expert SQL Server support when the full-time DBA is on leave. They highlight the risks of unmonitored servers, such as performance issues, missed backups, and potential downtime. The service includes proactive monitoring, issue resolution, on-call support, and customizable duration coverage. Stedman Solutions, with over 100 years of combined SQL Server experience, ensures seamless handoffs and detailed post-vacation reports. They offer a free 30-minute consultation and a special offer of a free database health monitor license for new clients.

Steve Stedman and guest Derrick Bovenkamp in Season 2, Episode 14 of the Stedman SQL Server Podcast for an in-depth discussion on Read Committed Snapshot Isolation (RCSI). Discover how this SQL Server feature enhances performance and reduces blocking in database environments. The episode covers how RCSI works, its differences from other isolation levels, steps to enable it, and best practices for implementation, along with potential pitfalls to avoid. Perfect for DBAs and developers aiming to optimize SQL Server workloads, this episode offers expert insights and practical examples.

In this episode, we explore two of the most common performance issues in SQL Server: blocking and deadlocks. Although they might appear similar at first glance, they behave very differently and require different approaches to troubleshoot and resolve. You'll learn what blocking is, why it happens, and when it's considered normal. We’ll also explain what causes deadlocks, how SQL Server automatically handles them by killing one process, and why that matters for your applications. Along the way, we’ll walk through real-world examples, share tips to prevent both problems, and explain how indexing, query tuning, and good transaction practices can make all the difference.

We cover several powerful new features designed to improve the user experience and give DBAs deeper visibility into their environments. This includes new reports for better database insights, additional health checks and warning messages, and the all-new cardinality report. We also introduce the TDE (Transparent Data Encryption) Status Instance Report to help track encryption status across your servers. Plus, we discuss upcoming licensing changes and what that means for current and future users of the tool. Whether you're already using Database Health Monitor or just starting out, this episode is packed with insights to help you get the most out of your SQL Server environment.

This week's episode discusses 4 common mistakes that may be affecting your SQL Server performance. We will cover the misuse of correlated subqueries, cross apply and how it can be over used, missing or overlooked indexes and overly wide tables. Steve covers each of this potential issues in detail with real world examples and how to avoid misusing them. You won't want to miss this one!

Happy 10 Year Anniversary to Stedman Solutions! In this special Stedman SQL Podcast episode, Steve reminisces back on the last decade of how Stedman Solutions came to be, the learning curves and growth that the company has had, and announces an exclusive gift for our listeners. Thank you for the last 10 years, and here is to the next!Stedman.us/PodcastYoutube

Stedman.us/Performance-class

Steve Stedman and Mitchell Glasscock discuss new features inthe Database Health Monitor, including six new deadlock reports at both instance and database levels. They explain deadlock scenarios, the concept of deadlock victims and winners, and how the tool helps identify and track deadlocks. They also introduce a new email alerting tool for notifying users of critical issues, even when the tool is not open. Additionally, they highlight the inclusion of schema drift comparison, SQL Server health reports, and replication status reports. The episode concludes with a sneak peek at upcoming features and an announcement for the 10-year anniversary of Stedman Solutions.

In this week's episode of the SQL Server Podcast, Steve and Derrick Bovenkamp, break down the first steps they take when analyzing a SQL Server. In just 30 minutes, they cover key areas like performance bottlenecks, missing indexes, query optimization, and database health checks using tools like Database Health Monitor. Whether you're troubleshooting issues or optimizing your environment, this episode is packed with expert insights to get you started.

This week, Steve Stedman introduces the latest release of Database Health Monitor, featuring significant updates to the Schema Drift tool. Originally developed in 2015, Schema Drift allows users to compare schema objects across databases, including tables, triggers, and stored procedures. After facing challenges with SQL Server Management Objects (SMO), the tool was completely rewritten in 2024 to eliminate SMO dependency, resulting in improved stability and faster performance. Stedman demonstrates its powerful functionality, showcasing how it detects database differences, facilitates object migration, and exports comparison results to Excel—ideal for client presentations. Schema Drift is available for free within Database Health Monitor or as a standalone tool at Schemadrift.com . This step by step instructional podcast, is an episode you won't want to miss.

In this episode of the SQL Server Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most dreaded issues for database administrators—SQL Server database corruption. Corruption can strike at any time, causing data loss, downtime, and major headaches. But with the right knowledge and tools, you can detect, repair, and even prevent corruption before it becomes a disaster.Join Steve Stedman and Shannon as we discuss:- Common causes of database corruption- How to detect corruption using DBCC CHECKDB- Best practices for repairing corruption and recovering data- The role of backups and corruption-resistant strategies- Real-world stories from fixing corrupt databases Whether you’re an experienced DBA or new to SQL Server, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you protect your data and keep your databases running smoothly.

In this week's episode of the SQL Server Podcast, we dive into DBA interview questions—what to expect, how to prepare, and how to stand out! Whether you're applying for a SQL Server DBA role or hiring for one, we break down common technical, performance tuning, and disaster recovery questions that every DBA should know.

In this episode of the SQL Server Podcast, Steve Stedman breaks down the fundamentals of indexing in SQL Server and why it’s essential for database performance. Steve starts by explaining the key role of indexes in speeding up query performance. Using a phone book analogy, he illustrates the difference between clustered and non-clustered indexes. A clustered index organizes data physically based on a specific column, making searches on that column highly efficient. Meanwhile, a non-clustered index acts as a separate lookup table, helping speed up queries on other columns, such as names or phone numbers.

Steve Stedman and Bob Borges discuss the importance of proactive cybersecurity, highlighting the significant costs of neglecting it. They cite a 2023 report indicating the average data breach cost is over $4.5 million, with 60% of small businesses shutting down within six months of a breach. Bob emphasizes that all businesses are targets, with healthcare breaches averaging over $10 million. They stress the need for comprehensive security plans, regular audits, and user training. Proactive measures include encrypting SQL databases, implementing multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring. They warn that breaches lead to direct and indirect costs, including compliance fines, downtime, and reputational damage.

Steve Stedman and Mitchell Glasscock discuss the importance of Virtual Log Files (VLFs) in SQL Server, emphasizing their impact on performance and backup processes. They explain that VLFs are sequential chunks within the transaction log file, and too many or too large VLFs can slow down systems, especially during backups. They highlight that VLF counts should be kept under 500-1000 and individual VLF sizes under 1-2 GB. They demonstrate how Database Health Monitor (DHM) helps manage VLFs, including visualizing VLFs, shrinking log files, and setting proper growth settings. They also stress the importance of monitoring and alerting systems to prevent issues like running out of disk space due to unmanaged log files.

To see more episodes: https://stedman.us/podcast

Steve Stedman and Shannon Lindsay discuss SQL Server New Year's resolutions, emphasizing the importance of backup strategies, proactive monitoring, and staying updated with SQL Server versions. They highlight a January promotion offering 12 months of managed services for the price of 10, providing a 16% discount. Key resolutions include reviewing and testing backups, implementing proactive monitoring, ensuring systems are up-to-date, optimizing query performance, protecting against data corruption and ransomware, and planning for disaster recovery. They also stress the value of training and mentoring to improve SQL Server management. Resources like free white papers and a business continuity survey are available at Stedman Solutions.

Last Podcast Episode of the Year! Dive into the fascinating world of SQL Server with our latest episode, where we break down JOIN Types like never before. Whether you're a seasoned DBA or just getting started, this episode has something for everyone!

What You'll Learn:

• Inner JOINs: The backbone of SQL queries.
• Outer JOINs (LEFT, RIGHT, FULL): When and how to use them effectively.
• CROSS JOINs: Unlocking the Cartesian product.
• Self JOINs: Tying a table to itself for unique insights.
• Performance tips for optimizing JOINs in large datasets.

Join us as we reflect on a fantastic year of SQL learning and prepare for more in 2024. Stay tuned for tips, tricks, and real-world examples from the field.

Main Podcast Page: https://stedmansolutions.com/home/sql-server-podcast/

This episode dives into the newly released features for Database Health Monitor with our experts, Steve, George and Mitchell. They discuss Virtual Log Files (VLFs), explaining their impact on database performance and maintenance, and provide insights on how to manage them more effectively. Additionally, the team unpacks updates related to SQL Server CPU schedulers, shedding light on how these enhancements can improve workload distribution and system efficiency. Tune in for these topics and much more, as they share their expert analysis, tips, and real-world use cases!

Main Podcast Page: https://stedmansolutions.com/home/sql-server-podcast/

In this episode, we dive deep into two critical concepts in disaster recovery and business continuity for SQL Server: Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO). Whether you’re a seasoned DBA or just getting started, understanding RPO and RTO is essential for ensuring your SQL Server environment is prepared to withstand and recover from disasters, system failures, or data corruption.What are RPO and RTO?We kick off the episode by defining these terms and exploring their significance in database management:RPO (Recovery Point Objective): This measures how much data loss is acceptable for your organization. It’s a threshold indicating the maximum period of data that could be lost due to a failure or disaster.RTO (Recovery Time Objective): This measures how quickly your systems must be restored to operational status after a disaster or failure. It’s essentially the maximum acceptable downtime.Both metrics are foundational when planning backup strategies, disaster recovery protocols, and high-availability solutions.We will discuss real life situations and how to avoid them yourself.

Main Podcast Page: https://stedmansolutions.com/home/sql-server-podcast/

Steve Stedman and Derek Bovenkamp discuss SQL Server database corruption, its causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies. Corruption often results from IO issues, such as firmware problems with iSCSI or antivirus software misconfigurations. Symptoms include failed queries and check DB errors. They emphasize the importance of regular check DBs, ideally daily, and testing backups. Effective solutions include restoring from backups or engaging experts like Stedman Solutions. They highlight the risks of ignoring corruption, including potential data loss and compliance issues. Best practices include using OLA Halogen scripts, maintaining up-to-date hardware, and staying current with SQL Server updates.

Main Podcast Page: https://stedmansolutions.com/home/sql-server-podcast/

In this podcast, Steve discusses the importance of having a business continuity plan. Discover the essentials of business continuity and why it's critical for protecting your company’s data and operations. Learn how Stedman Solutions' expertise in SQL Server ensures your databases remain secure, efficient, and prepared for any disaster. Don't leave your business at risk—watch now to see how proactive database management can safeguard your future!

Main Podcast Page: https://stedmansolutions.com/home/sql-server-podcast/

On this episode of our SQL Server Podcast, we have a special guest come join us, Brandie Kayser from ROC-IT and Business Solutions. We discuss the importance of budgeting and planning for the unexpected, and walk through the 5-step process she and her team use in order to break down this budget planning. Brandie is one of our Stedman partners and we are so glad she could join us. Check out the E-Book mentioned in the video, here: www.roc-it.net and fill out the contact form for the free download!

Main Podcast Page: https://stedmansolutions.com/home/sql-server-podcast/

In Episode 6 of the Stedman SQL Server Podcast, Shannon sits down with SQL Server experts George and Mitchell to discuss the exciting new features released in October. Get insights from industry pros as they dive into the latest updates, improvements, and tools designed to enhance performance, security, and ease of use. Whether you're a DBA or SQL enthusiast, this episode will bring you up to speed on how these features can impact your SQL Server environment and how to make the most of them!

Main Podcast Page: https://stedmansolutions.com/home/sql-server-podcast/