In the years before joining Redgate, I was a SQL Server database consultant. I spent a lot of time doing SQL Server health checks, query tuning, and ETL (extract, transform, and load) development. Every customer was different and getting to the resources I needed to do the job at each shop varied as well. I … Read more
PowerShell is the preferred tool for many DBAs when automating SQL Server administration. In this article, Greg Moore demonstrates how to use a server list to control which tasks are performed on which servers.… Read more
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
In order to protect data and comply with regulations such as the GDPR and HIPAA, databases used by developers and testers must not contain private and sensitive data from production databases. To help DBAs protect data, Microsoft have released a new feature as part of SSMS called Static Data Masking. In this article, Greg Larsen demonstrates how to use this new feature.… Read more
When most of us think of robotics used in enterprises, automating manufacturing processes comes to mind. Robotics Process Automation (RPA), however, deals with automating mundane office tasks. In this article, Arvind Kumar explains the benefits of RPA and presents a case study.… Read more
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
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
It’s easy to use invoke-sqlcmd to send T-SQL statements to SQL Server from PowerShell. There is, however, a rich PowerShell library, sqlps, that can be used instead. In this article, Greg Moore shows how to use sqlps to treat a SQL Server instance as an object.… Read more
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
SQLPSX is a useful library you can add to PowerShell to automate many DBA tasks. In this article, Laerte Junior demonstrates several useful commands and shows you how to create a SQL Agent job using this library to run daily DBA checks.… Read more
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
In the third article of this series on testing PowerShell code with Pester, Robert Cain demonstrates how to test the functions in a PowerShell module. … Read more
In the third part of his series, Nicolas Prigent describes how to run post-deployment configuration and automation tasks on Azure Virtual Machines. Nicolas explains how to use Azure VM Extensions using the Azure PowerShell module to save time during the provisioning process.… Read more
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
Now that the GDPR has gone into effect, many are wondering what will happen in the United States. California is the first state to enact similar legislation, called the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA). In this article, William Brewer explains the history of the law, what it means for companies doing business with California residents, and how it compares to the GDPR.… Read more
Since the GDPR has gone into effect, the focus has often been on databases. There are many other ways that personally identifiable data may be stored by an organization. In this article, David Poole shows how to use Bash and PowerShell to locate that data in file shares… Read more
As a data professional or developer, you will likely have questions about how HIPAA impacts you and your day to day responsibilities. Rebecca Edwards answers common questions about HIPAA that you were too shy to ask… Read more
Testing your PowerShell scripts is just as important as testing any code. In this article, Robert Cain demonstrates how to use the testing tool, Pester, to perform unit, integration, and acceptance testing.… Read more
Everyone knows how important code testing is, and to be thorough, you must automate testing. This includes scripts such as those written in PowerShell as well. In this article, Robert Cain introduces Pester, a tool for testing PowerShell code.… Read more
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
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Compliant Database DevOps
