Security is an important consideration when designing a database application. Who can get access to what data? How much damage can someone do if they get at your data?

In SQL Server 2005 Microsoft implemented column-based encryption, and in SQL Server 2008 they added Transparent Data Encryption. Both solutions work… Read more

Yesterday I delivered a session for the PASS DBA Virtual Chapter on Service Broker. In preparing for the session I was having trouble with my demo environment.

Since early this year, after I upgraded my laptop to a Lenovo W510 with 10GB RAM, I've been using VM Workstation for my… Read more

Over time it's easy to lose track of the things you set up to get work done. As a consultant, I have to discover what's set up on a client system. In either case, it's important to know what security settings are in place to know if they're appropriate and… Read more

Another quick check I like to do when in 'discovery mode' on a client system is to see what network protocols are enabled. Those of us around in 2003 will remember well the headaches caused by the SQL Slammer virus, and know to shut down Named Pipes unless it's absolutely… Read more

As a consultant I spend much of the first day or two at a client site discovering everything I can about their servers, before I start planning the engagement. You can find DDL triggers by going into the Object Explorer in Management Studio, open up each database, select Programmability, then… Read more

Lately I've been working on scripts to check and set security and configuration settings for SQL Server using PowerShell. One of the settings that I normally set and forget at install time is the Authentication Mode setting. Best practices suggest that you set this to Windows Authentication, but my experience… Read more

This year the Program Committee decided to open up the selection process to the community. I'm anxious to see how well this is received, since it'll be the people who are actively online and aware of the process who'll influence the sessions that are selected.

I've submitted four regular sessions… Read more