Below is a longer version of the equivalent Technet Article  under Security TechCenter > Learn > Security Columns > MVP Articles >  Database Security Best Practices

The security of corporate databases and related aspects have become increasingly important as enterprises consider the data they store, purchase, or acquire as…

It’s actually kind of cool that SQL Rally voting for the pre-conference seminars and voting in the real(ish) world in the USA are coinciding. I’m in the running for the pre-con AND I’m volunteering for an actual election campaign for the first time ever.

Volunteering for the campaign is hard… Read more

Beginning with tomorrow I’m no longer working for HP Austria, because I’m starting my own SQL Server Consulting business. I’ve been working with SQL Server for almost 10 years now, so now its time for me to give my learning's back to you through consulting. From 2000 to 2005 I’ve… Read more

What uses have you found for sparse columns in your databases?

 
SPARSE columns is a new feature in SQL Server 2008. This feature enables developers/DBAs or others who work with SQL Server database to store null values very effectively. In ideal scenario, if the column is NULL, than with this… Read more

I will be giving two presentations next week at the SQL Server Connections conference in Las Vegas. There is a great selection of wonderful speakers lined up for this conference.

The titles and abstracts of my two sessions are shown below:

Dr. DMV: How to Use Dynamic Management Views to…

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 In our last installment , I describe the three essential skills I felt were hallmarks of the best and most successful directors that I’ve worked with.  Good directors, indeed good strategic leaders of all stripes, usually have at least one or more of these skills: strategic planning, visionary goals, and… Read more

In our last installment , I describe the three essential skills I felt were hallmarks of the best and most successful directors that I’ve worked with.  Good directors, indeed good strategic leaders of all stripes, usually have at least one or… Read more

Hate to post this late but just wanted to let everyone know I’ll be presenting for Brazil’s Worldwide Online Tech Day tomorrow, Saturday October 30th. I’ll be presenting on Policy-Based Management and my session runs at 6pm EDT. Listed below is the link schedule of events. This event will have… Read more

Not so much my special as SQL Saturday #59′s Special. These guys in NYC are pulling out all the stops. This blog post proves it. If you can make it to only one SQL Saturday in the next 5 months (I’m hosting one in 6), you should go to this. Read more

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If you followed the PASS Summit activities last year, you’ll probably remember the “blogger table”.  This was an area designated during each morning’s keynote assembly for a small number of writers who provided live commentary through blogs and tweets.  At this year’s Summit, I’ll be the SQLServerCentral.com representative in this… Read more

I saw this at the college where we held SQLSaturday #49 on the restroom door. I’m not sure what to make of it. It’s not as if the door blasts open with the automatic opener, and how is it different than someone on the inside pushing it open? And wouldn’t… Read more

Self-marketing is not my strong suit. I don't feel very comfortable doing it, but Andy Warren (twitter | blog) suggests that we do so and he points out that by doing so we get the word out about SQLRally. If you haven't heard, voting on SQLRally abstracts is… Read more

Before I get into my thoughts, go vote! Here are the options this year for the SQLRally pre-cons:

• BI Sessions: http://www.sqlpass.org/sqlrally/2011/PreConsforVotingBI.aspx
• DBA Sessions: http://www.sqlpass.org/sqlrally/2011/PreConsforVotingDba.aspx
• Developer Sessions: http://www.sqlpass.org/sqlrally/2011/PreConsforVotingDev.aspx
• Misc Sessions: http://www.sqlpass.org/sqlrally/2011/PreConsforVotingMisc.aspx

Here is the voting link. Voting closes 8 am PST on November 2nd, 2010.

For those of you not… Read more

Don’t forget the Minnesota SQL Saturday is TODAY.  Obviously, this was written before today and I’m hoping to catch a few people that might have forgotten. 

If so, jump in your car and head over.  The spot you registered for is still waiting for you.  Hope you can join us… Read more

Tuesday

PASS Performance Virtual Chapter - Five Fast Fixes for Fatal Flaws - Brent Ozar

Wednesday

SQL Lunch - Data Mining in SQL Server and Power Pivot - Adam Jorgensen

SSWUG - SQL Service Broker Advanced Performance Tips and Tricks

Thursday

SQL Lunch - Auditing Database Permissions in… Read more

In about a week and a half, the SQLServerCentral opening night party takes place at the PASS Summit. And while I won’t be there, I’m in charge of the prizes that will be going out to everyone attending.

In the past I’ve usually done a couple big Best Buy trips… Read more

Sunday, October 31, 2010 is Halloween, and in the spirit of the holiday of ghosts, goblins, vampires, werewolves, witches and warlocks, I just couldn’t resist, to bring you a short Halloween poem to introduce our next SQLSaturday #59 Speaker:

It was a dark and stormy night, 

As all these… Read more

I actually built on in 1999 and called it a Life List. Over the years I’ve tried to work on the list each year, knocking off something, but I also learned something. I learned that as I grew, and my life was more enjoyable, some of the things on… Read more

As your database grows in size, Analysis Services cubes that use that database grow along with it. As such, one thing that can improve performance of your cube is partitioning (splitting up) your measures. In this post, I am going to quickly show you how to switch from a table… Read more