SQL Server Diaries

SQL Server has allowed storage of binary data in the database at least since SQL Server 2000. With the release of SQL Server 2005, the IMAGE data type was subsequently planned for deprecation and replaced by VARBINARY(max). The IMAGE data type still works and is still supported in SQL Server... [Read More]

I recently came across a number of SSISDB databases (on SQL Server 2012 instances) configured with the default log retention settings. While this might not seem like a problem, on a system hosting a considerable number of packages, where some of said packages are scheduled to run multiple times a... [Read More]

This article assumes that the reader is aware of the benefits of deploying a standardized backup and maintenance solution. [Read More]

Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)has many advantages, and satisfies a number of audit, security and compliance requirements. This article is not about setting up TDE. [Read More]

Many times a DBA is asked to provide the list of permissions, for auditing purposes, or simply to review the current permissions. Sometimes the request is for server-wide permissions, sometimes the scope is limited to a database, sometimes to a Login, or combinations or “all of the above”. [Read More]