Brian Kelley

Brian Kelley is an author, columnist, and Microsoft SQL Server MVP focusing primarily on SQL Server security. He is a contributing author for How to Cheat at Securing SQL Server 2005 (Syngress), Professional SQL Server 2008 Administration (Wrox), and Introduction to SQL Server (Texas Publishing). Brian currently serves as an infrastructure and security architect. He has also served as a senior Microsoft SQL Server DBA, database architect, developer, and incident response team lead.

Interests: Chess, Reading, Soccer (Football), Baseball, Animals, Theology

All authors

In-Person CISA Training – April 13-16, 2026

by Brian Kelley

Databases – Infrastructure – Security

I will be leading an in-person Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam prep class on April 13-16, 2026, in Columbia, SC.

2026-03-18

80 reads

Black Box vs. Gray Box vs. White Box Testing

by Brian Kelley

Databases – Infrastructure – Security

If your organization is spending money, then meaningful results are a must. Pen testing isn't supposed to be a pat on the back. It's supposed to be a tool...

2026-03-17

50 reads

Learn Better: Pause to Review More

by Brian Kelley

Databases – Infrastructure – Security

If you want to learn better, pause more in your learning to intentionally review.

2026-01-26 (first published: 2026-01-13)

274 reads

Plan your 2026

by Brian Kelley

Databases – Infrastructure – Security

If you don't have a plan, you'll accomplish it. That's not a good thing.

2026-01-19 (first published: 2026-01-08)

256 reads

Act on Your Certification Test Results

by Brian Kelley

Databases – Infrastructure – Security

Pass or fail, act on your certification test results.

2026-01-14 (first published: 2026-01-05)

480 reads

I recommend Smart Brevity (book) for communications

by Brian Kelley

Databases – Infrastructure – Security

Following the advice in Smart Brevity improves communication.

2026-01-06

49 reads

Resetting on the AI hype train

by Brian Kelley

Databases – Infrastructure – Security

There's a great article from MIT Technology Review about resetting on the hype of AI. AI's current state is somewhere between the die hard evangelists and the doomsayers

2026-01-05 (first published: 2025-12-19)

414 reads

Patch Tuesday – Where to get more information

by Brian Kelley

Databases – Infrastructure – Security

For a number of years I have subscribed to Randy Franklin Smith's Patch Tuesday newsletter. It tends to hit my inbox in the wee hours of Wednesday.

2025-12-31 (first published: 2025-12-10)

281 reads

Prepping for Certification, Part 4 of 4

by Brian Kelley

Databases – Infrastructure – Security

In Parts 1-3, I covered how I prepare for a certification exam. In this last part, I'll talk about how I go about taking the exam.

2025-12-19 (first published: 2025-12-08)

473 reads

4 CPE Opportunity (Virtual) for Charity

by Brian Kelley

Databases – Infrastructure – Security

Every year, the South Carolina State Internal Auditors Association and the South Carolina Midlands ISACA Chapter partner together to put on a "CPE catchup" opportunity in December to provide...

2025-12-17

56 reads

All authors

Brian Kelley

In-Person CISA Training – April 13-16, 2026

Black Box vs. Gray Box vs. White Box Testing

Learn Better: Pause to Review More

Plan your 2026

Act on Your Certification Test Results

I recommend Smart Brevity (book) for communications

Resetting on the AI hype train

Patch Tuesday – Where to get more information

Prepping for Certification, Part 4 of 4

4 CPE Opportunity (Virtual) for Charity

Blogs

How to Measure AI Value: A 6-Branch AI Maturity Model for Use Cases and Agents

Speeding Up Patching – Beyond Patch Delivery

Monday Monitor Tips: Query Recommendations

Forums

Alamat BCA KCP Raden Saleh +62 838-4945-0961

Azure SQL Hyperscale Unveiled

What is the worst part about existing monitoring solutions?

Question of the Day

SQL Server Vector Support I