Can you shrink your SQL Server database to death?
To increase SQL Server disk space, 'shrink the database' task is used. But the tests in this tip using autogrowth prove that 'shrink database' poorly impacts SQL performance.
2008-10-14
4,484 reads
Additional Articles
Granting View Definition Permission to a User or Role
Instead of granting higher level permissions, is there a way to allow users that only have public access the ability to see object definitions?
2008-10-13
3,693 reads
Database Encryption in SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition
This white paper compares TDE with these other encryption methods for application developers and database administrators. While this is not a technical, in-depth review of TDE, technical implementations are explored and a familiarity with concepts such as virtual log files and the buffer pool are assumed.
2008-10-10
2,702 reads
Parent-child dimensions in SQL Server 2005
Retrieving a hierarchy with recursive relationships can be difficult in SQL. Easily implement these relationships with a parent-child dimension using Analysis Services MDX.
2008-10-10
3,842 reads
SQL Server 2008 Data Collections and the Management Data Warehouse
Data Collections are a great tool that allows DBAs to gather different statistics, and the Management Data Warehouse (MDW) is the repository for storing those statistics. This article offers an overview of Data Collections and how to configure the MDW.
2008-10-09
2,720 reads
Understanding and dealing with orphaned users in a SQL Server database
Attaching and restoring databases from one server instance to another are common tasks executed by a DBA. After attaching or restoring of a database, previously created and configured logins in that database do not provide access. This tip looks at how to deal with this.
2008-10-09
4,605 reads
SQL Server database design disasters: What not to do
Inspired by what he recently found in some SQL Server shops, database architect Brian Walker shares advice for improved database design – and SQL Server performance.
2008-10-08
5,952 reads
Disabling a Trigger for a Specific SQL Statement or Session
I want to suppress the trigger from firing for a particular statement while it remains in its normal execution state for any of the other statements. Is there any way this can be done dynamically?
2008-10-07
4,550 reads
Blog: SQL Server 2008 Transparent Data Encryption
A great summary from MVP Brad McGehee on the new TDE feature in SQL Server 2008
2008-10-06
3,124 reads
SqlCredit – Part 19: Exploring SQL 2005’s Ranking Functions – RANK() and DENSE_RANK()
Part 19 digs deep into two of SQL 2005's ranking functions: RANK() and DENSE_RANK(). It includes performance considerations and using CTEs to avoid table variables.
2008-10-06
3,629 reads
Blogs
Microsoft announces new cybersecurity AI multi-model
By Brian Kelley
Yesterday, July 27, 2026, Microsoft announced a new cybersecurity effort called Project Perception. Included...
Getting the SQL Server MCP Server Running
By Steve Jones
If you’ve wanted a SQL Server MCP server for your databases, it’s available. The...
Introducing azsql-migration-test: Test and Validate Azure SQL Database Migrations
Introducing azsql-migration-test, a small open-source CLI that validates your Azure SQL Database migrations against...
Forums
Symmetric Key Encryption
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The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why Your Login Auditing Strategy Might Be Hurting Your Server
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Building Your Own Software
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Question of the Day
Symmetric Key Encryption
If I run this statement in SQL Server 2025, how is the password encrypted?
CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY MySymmetricKey WITH ALGORITHM = AES_256, KEY_SOURCE = 'My secret key source passphrase', IDENTITY_VALUE = 'My secret identity value' ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'S&perS#cretP@ssword7'; GOSee possible answers