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When you enable Read Committed Snapshot Isolation (RCSI) in SQL Server, it can dramatically reduce blocking by storing previous row versions in tempdb. This lets readers access a consistent snapshot without waiting on writers. In many workloads, this improves concurrency and reduces contention. What the version store is Under RCSI (and snapshot isolation), when a row is modified SQL Server writes the previous version of that row into the version store in tempdb. Readers that started earlier under RCSI can …

TempDB’s Version Store: The Risk of Long Transactions with RCSI Read more »

One of the most frustrating parts of managing SQL Server is when issues creep up silently in the background—until they suddenly cause downtime or performance problems. Wouldn’t it be better to know about those issues before they become emergencies? That’s where email alerting in Database Health Monitor helps proactively monitor your systems, so you can take action before disaster strikes. Why Email Alerts Matter SQL Server issues rarely happen out of nowhere. There are usually early warning signs—backup jobs falling …

Stay Ahead of SQL Server Problems with Database Health Monitor Email Alerts Read more »

The Day a Single Keystroke Cost Three Years of Data (And How We Got It Back) It was 2:17 p.m. on a quiet Tuesday when a junior DBA typed DROP TABLE customers; and pressed Enter. In less than a second, three years of transaction history vanished. Production ground to a halt, management went into crisis mode, and the entire team stared at the screen in disbelief. The first instinct was to restore the most recent backup. The most recent daily …

Oops… Someone Dropped a Table: The Hidden Nightmare of Human-Error Data Loss in SQL Server Read more »

If you’re knee-deep in the world of SQL Server like I am, buckle up because yesterday was a game-changer. Microsoft dropped the mic with the general availability of SQL Server 2025 on November 18, 2025, right in the thick of their Ignite conference. It’s official – the future of database management just got a whole lot smarter, faster, and more AI-infused. And the best part? As someone who’s been tinkering with tools to keep databases humming, I’ve got great news: …

SQL Server 2025 Hits the Scene, and Database Health Monitor is Ready to Roll Read more »

Welcome to our latest discussion on the unique aspects of TDE’s operations. In a world where companies often stretch themselves thin trying to be everything to everyone, we take a different approach. This post, titled “Things TDE Does Not Do,” aims to shed light on the deliberate choices we make to stay focused on our core strengths. By clearly defining what we don’t do, we hope to provide clarity on our mission and values, ensuring that our energy and resources …

Things TDE Does Not Do Read more »

There have been a number of questions in regard to our recent licensing changes in Version 3 of Database Health Monitor. Hopefully this letter helps explain the changes. NOTE: After receiving customer feedback this week for a single license price point for Database Health Montor, we have added that to the pricing matrix. You can now purchase a Database Health Monitor License for a single server for the following prices. https://stedman.us/dbh-school I hope that this makes it easier to purchase …

Database Health Monitor Licensing Changes Read more »

Exploring Schema Search in Database Health Monitor Managing a SQL Server environment can be a daunting task, especially when dealing with numerous databases, objects, and configurations. Fortunately, tools like Database Health Monitor simplify this process with features such as the Schema Search, making it easier than ever to locate and manage database objects efficiently. This functionality stands out as a game-changer for database administrators. What is Schema Search? Schema Search, as seen in Database Health Monitor, is a powerful tool …

Exploring Schema Search in Database Health Monitor Read more »

For more information on Database Health Monitor you can visit StedmanSolutions.com. You can download the free trial of Database Health Monitor at https://DatabaseHealth.com/download2. Exploring the dbAssistant Feature in Database Health Monitor Database Health Monitor is a powerful tool for managing and optimizing SQL Server Performance, and one of its standout features is the dbAssistant. Available at the Server Overview panel, the Database Overview panel, and integrated into many reports, dbAssistant is designed to simplify database maintenance by proactively scanning for …

What is the dbAssistant feature of Database Health Monitor Read more »

Understanding TDE in SQL Server Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) is a SQL Server feature that encrypts database files to protect data at rest. Available since SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition, TDE secures data files, log files, and backups without requiring application changes. How TDE Works TDE encrypts the entire database using a Database Encryption Key (DEK), protected by a certificate or asymmetric key in the master database. The certificate is secured by a master key or Hardware Security Module (HSM). …

Transparent Data Encryption on SQL Server Read more »