I recently submitted a tip regarding the existence of your backup files using the undocumented system stored procedure xp_fileexist. But how would you go about executing that script against all your SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008 instances? I took that script and decided to go one step further using Policy Based Management to create a custom policy that you can then run against all your SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008 instances.

Encryptionphobia

by JohnMagnabosco

SQLServerCentral.com

Editorial

The battle to secure personal and business data is a tough one, and the consequences of mishandling sensitive data can be severe. In this guest editorial, John Magnabosco argues that it's high time people overcame their fear of encryption.

Theoretical Performance Issue Handling

by R. C. van Dijk

SQLServerCentral.com

Performance Tuning

Theoretical performance issue handling or handling theoretical performance issues from new author R. C. van Dijk.

Two Factor Authentication

by Steve Jones

SQLServerCentral.com

Editorial

SQL Server doesn't support two factor authentication, but Steve Jones thinks it might be a good idea. Perhaps it's something that will get implemented in the next version, and might even serve to better secure the platform.

Attaching a database in Microsoft SQL Server 2008

by Additional Articles

Database Journal

SQL Server 2008

Various methods of using the "For Attach" clause exist to overcome the limitations that face us when using sp_attach_db and sp_attach_single_file_db. The first installment illustrates the use of the "Create Database" statement for the "For Attach" and "for ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG" arguments, for a single .MDF file and single .LDF file.

Reporting Services System and Item Security

by Additional Articles

Database Journal

Reporting Services (SSRS)

Recent installments of our series have focused on SQL Server 2005 Express Edition's implementation of the Reporting Services component. This article addresses our temporary disregard of security restrictions by describing authentication and authorization functionality that can be leveraged to control access to published content and management characteristics.