Year: 2026

Shrinking a database can seem like a helpful way to save space and resources, particularly if a database has grown substantially over time. However, SQL Server’s default maintenance plans that include database shrinking can lead to several performance issues. Here’s why: Fragmentation: When a database is shrunk, the data pages are reorganized to create a contiguous block of free space at the end of the data file, which can cause severe fragmentation. This fragmentation can significantly degrade the performance of …

Database Health Quickscan – Default maintenance plans to shrink database – Ouch Read more »

July is Database Health Monitor Month! July has arrived, and it’s time to turn our attention to the heartbeat of our digital world – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I’m thrilled to proclaim this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual chance to celebrate the unsung heroes safeguarding our precious data and to explore the intricate web of data structures and relationships within our systems. Let’s take a closer look at …

What Is Database Health Monitor? Read more »

Welcome to July – a month that signifies a shift in focus to the unseen heroes of our digital infrastructure – our databases. As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, it is with great pleasure that I announce this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This annual event allows us to appreciate our precious data, explore the intricacies of our systems, and focus on enhancing the health of our databases. This July, let’s not merely keep our databases …

Celebrating Database Health Monitor Month Read more »

Managing SQL Server transaction log files often presents unexpected hurdles for database teams when deciding how and when to shrink SQL Server log files, especially when rapid growth threatens available disk space. These files play a vital role in recording every change to the database, yet their expansion can quickly outpace initial expectations if underlying activity or configuration issues go unaddressed. Many administrators reach for the shrink command as an immediate remedy, but doing so without understanding the full context …

How and When to Shrink SQL Server Log Files: Best Practices Read more »

In today’s data-driven landscape, businesses rely heavily on robust SQL Server environments to manage critical operations, yet many struggle with performance bottlenecks, security gaps, and inefficient resource allocation. Stedman Solutions stands out as a specialized Consulting firm dedicated to addressing these challenges through targeted expertise in database management and optimization. With a focus on delivering practical strategies that align with unique organizational needs, their services encompass everything from query tuning and system scalability to proactive security measures that safeguard sensitive …

Stedman Solutions: Expert SQL Server Consulting Services for Performance, Security and Optimization Read more »

Common Symptoms of Corruption in a SQL Server Database SQL Server database corruption is a serious concern that can strike without warning, potentially leading to data loss, failed queries, and costly downtime for organizations that rely on their databases every day. Whether caused by hardware failures, disk errors, or unexpected system issues, corruption often leaves database administrators scrambling to identify the problem before it escalates. Recognizing the early indicators is essential for maintaining database integrity and minimizing disruption. Fortunately, SQL …

SQL Server Database Corruption Symptoms: 7 Warning Signs to Watch For Read more »

SQL Server Patching Risks: Why Patching vs. Not Patching Matters Patching SQL Server often presents database administrators with a difficult choice between maintaining security and avoiding potential disruptions. While updates address known vulnerabilities and improve stability, applying them can sometimes lead to compatibility problems or unexpected downtime that affects business operations. At the same time, delaying or skipping patches leaves systems exposed to evolving threats, performance degradation, and regulatory concerns that grow more severe over time. Weighing these competing factors …

SQL Server Patching Risks: To Patch or Not to Patch? Read more »

Understanding SQL Server Cost Threshold for Parallelism Optimizing SQL Server performance often comes down to fine-tuning configuration options that control how queries are executed. One frequently overlooked but critical setting is the Cost Threshold for Parallelism, which influences whether the database engine chooses to run operations across multiple CPU cores or sticks to a single thread. When this threshold is set too low, SQL Server may parallelize queries that would run more efficiently without the overhead of thread coordination, leading …

SQL Server Cost Threshold for Parallelism: Best Practices and Configuration Read more »

July is here and that means it’s time for us to pivot our collective gaze to the pulse of our digital lifeblood – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I am excited to declare this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual opportunity to appreciate the often-unseen guardians of our valuable data, and to dive deeper into the heartbeat of our systems, replete with intricate data structures and complex relations. It’s time …

Sneak preview – July is Database Health Monitor Month Read more »

SQL Server performance dashboard highlighting query bottlenecks and resource usage If your SQL Server suddenly starts dragging, the ripple effects can quickly reach every corner of your organization. Reports that once loaded in seconds now time out, transactions pile up, and end users begin to lose confidence in the systems they rely on every day. Pinpointing the exact culprit is rarely straightforward, yet most slowdowns stem from a handful of recurring issues that can be systematically identified and corrected. Performance …

Why Is My SQL Server Slow? 8 Common Causes & Fixes Read more »