Robert Sheldon

After being dropped 35 feet from a helicopter and spending the next year recovering, Robert Sheldon left the Colorado Rockies and emergency rescue work to pursue safer and less painful interests—thus his entry into the world of technology. He is now a technical consultant and the author of numerous books, articles, and training material related to Microsoft Windows, various relational database management systems, and business intelligence design and implementation. He has also written news stories, feature articles, restaurant reviews, legal summaries, and the novels 'Last Stand' and 'Dancing the River Lightly'. You can find more information at http://www.rhsheldon.com.

Robert Sheldon 29 May 2019

Introduction to SQL Server Security — Part 6

SQL Server has many tools used to make it secure. In this article, Robert Sheldon demonstrates several of these features including SQL Server Configuration Manager and the Vulnerability Assessment tool.… Read more

Robert Sheldon 23 April 2019

Introduction to SQL Server Security — Part 5

SQL Server contains many built-in views and functions that can be used to understand what is going on “under the hood,” and security is no exception. In this article, Robert Sheldon explains the security related catalogue views, dynamic management views, and system functions.… Read more

Robert Sheldon 26 March 2019

Introduction to SQL Server Security — Part 4

Data Protection and Privacy

The sa account is the most powerful account in a SQL Server instance, and most DBAs disable it. There are several other built-in accounts that you may not think about that often. Robert Sheldon continues his SQL Server security series with an article about built-in accounts.… Read more

Data Protection and Privacy

Robert Sheldon 25 February 2019

Introduction to SQL Server Security — Part 3

SQL Server supports partially contained databases. This gives you the option of adding database users with a password inside the database. This makes the database easier to move to another instance or participate in an Always On Availability Group. In this article, Robert Sheldon explains how to work with users in contained databases.… Read more

Robert Sheldon 28 January 2019

Introduction to SQL Server Security — Part 2

Data Protection and Privacy

In this article, the second in the series, Robert Sheldon demonstrates how to manage the SQL Server security with granting permissions to users, logins, and groups.… Read more

Data Protection and Privacy

Robert Sheldon 31 December 2018

Introduction to SQL Server Security — Part 1

Security is often considered the most important of a database administrator's responsibilities. SQL Server has many powerful features for security and protecting data, but planning and effort are required to properly implement them. In this article, the first of a series, Robert Sheldon reviews the many components available to secure and protect SQL Server databases. … Read more

Robert Sheldon 29 November 2018

Power BI Introduction: Visualizing SQL Server Audit Data — Part 9

SQL Server Audit is a powerful feature that can help you comply with regulations such as HIPAA and SOX, but it’s not easy to view the data collected. In this article, Robert Sheldon demonstrates how Power BI can be used to view and filter SQL Server Audit results.… Read more

Robert Sheldon 13 November 2018

SQL Server Auditing for HIPAA and SOX – Part 4

Data Protection and Privacy

Regulations may require that you audit exactly who does what in your databases. Robert Sheldon explains how SQL Server can help you meet those requirements with its built-in auditing capabilities.… Read more

Data Protection and Privacy

Robert Sheldon 24 October 2018

SOX and Database Administration – Part 3

Data Protection and Privacy

Database administrators are typically responsible for the security and availability of financial data. In this article, Robert Sheldon discusses SOX, passed in 2002, that governs financial data of publicly traded companies in the US.… Read more

Data Protection and Privacy

Robert Sheldon 09 October 2018

HIPAA and Database Administration – Part 2

Data Protection and Privacy

HIPAA was signed into law in the United States in 1996. In this article, Robert Sheldon discusses how the act affects the day-to-day responsibilities of database administrators. … Read more

Data Protection and Privacy

Robert Sheldon 01 October 2018

Adaptive Query Processing in SQL Server 2017

Database Administration

As new versions of SQL Server have been released, the Query Optimizer has undergone many improvements. Adaptive Query Processing, new in 2017, represents a new direction. This set of features provides some flexibility for varying join types, multi-statement table valued functions, and memory grants. In this article, Robert Sheldon explains the three features that make up Adaptive Query Processing … Read more

Database Administration

Robert Sheldon 17 September 2018

Power BI Introduction: Publishing Reports to the Power BI Service — Part 8

Power BI Desktop is typically used to create reports that will eventually be published to Power BI Services where dashboards can be built. Robert Sheldon demonstrates how to publish reports from Power BI Desktop to the Power BI Service. Once published, the visualizations can be filtered, drilled into, or pinned to a dashboard.… Read more

Robert Sheldon 21 August 2018

Power BI Introduction: Building Reports in Power BI Desktop — Part 7

Power BI contains rich visualizations that allow anyone to build insightful dashboards. In this article, Robert Sheldon shows you how to create Power BI charts, tables, maps, and slicers, … Read more

Robert Sheldon 15 August 2018

Introduction to HIPAA and SOX

Data Protection and Privacy

Despite the attention to data privacy and protection caused this year because of the GDPR, regulations governing how data is handled are nothing new. In this article, Robert Sheldon provides an overview of two US regulations, HIPAA and SOX, and explains how these regulations affect DBAs. … Read more

Data Protection and Privacy

Robert Sheldon 01 August 2018

Power BI Introduction: Power Query M Formula Language in Power BI Desktop — Part 6

In this article of the Power BI series, Robert Sheldon demonstrates how to work with the Power Query M language to import and transform data.… Read more

Robert Sheldon 17 July 2018

Power BI Introduction: Working with SQL Server data in Power BI Desktop — Part 5

Data for Power BI can come from many sources, but often the data is hosted in SQL Server. In this article, the fifth of the series, Robert Sheldon demonstrates how to work with SQL Server data in Power BI Desktop, including relationships between tables. … Read more

Robert Sheldon 05 July 2018

Power BI Introduction: Working with Parameters in Power BI Desktop —Part 4

Power BI allows you to use parameters to make your reports dynamic. In this article, Robert Sheldon demonstrates how parameters can be used to substitute connection information, query filters, or even calculations within the query.… Read more

Robert Sheldon 20 June 2018

Power BI Introduction: Working with R Scripts in Power BI Desktop — Part 3

R is a powerful language for manipulating data and creating visualizations. In this article in the series, Robert Sheldon demonstrates how R can be used within Power BI Desktop to import data and to create visualizations.… Read more

Robert Sheldon 06 June 2018

Power BI Introduction: Working with Power BI Desktop — Part 2

Power BI Desktop is the free tool from Microsoft for developing in Power BI. In this article, Robert Sheldon walks you through importing and manipulating data with the Query Editor in Power BI Desktop.… Read more

Robert Sheldon 10 May 2018

Power BI Introduction: Tour of Power BI — Part 1

Power BI has been available for a number of years, but new functionality is added regularly. In this new series from Robert Sheldon, you will learn about the latest developments or get started with Power BI if you are new to it. Robert provides an overview of Power BI, the services and tools available in this article. … Read more

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