SQL Server administration
Wait-statistics analysis, index and query plan remediation, and backup chains that actually restore.
The database that "just needs more RAM"
The most common SQL Server fix we see proposed is more hardware. Sometimes that's right. More often, the real problem is a missing index, a query plan that went bad after a statistics update, or a maintenance job that never got tuned past its default settings, and no amount of RAM fixes any of those.
Most mid-market companies don't have a dedicated SQL Server DBA. The instance gets tended by whoever is closest: a developer, a sysadmin, sometimes nobody, until performance degrades enough that someone finally looks.
We do the diagnostic work first: wait statistics, query plans, index usage, before recommending anything, because the fix that actually works is usually cheaper than the hardware upgrade that was about to get approved.
What's included
- Performance tuningWait-statistics analysis, index and query plan remediation, tied to evidence, not guesses.
- High availability configurationAlways On availability groups, configured and actually tested for failover, not just enabled.
- Backup and recoveryBackup chain validation with quarterly restore tests. A backup nobody has restored is a hope.
- Security hardeningLogin and role review, encryption posture, and configuration checked against CIS benchmarks.
- Patching and upgradesCumulative updates and version upgrades planned around your change windows, not left indefinitely.
- Capacity planningGrowth forecasting before the disk fills or the license tier stops covering the workload.
How the engagement runs
- 01Health checkA one-week fixed-scope review of the estate. Often the right starting point is our SQL Server Health Check.
- 02RemediationThe findings that matter most get fixed first: broken backup chains, missing indexes, misconfigured HA.
- 03Ongoing administrationEither as scoped project work or a Remote DBA retainer, depending on what the estate needs.
Technologies and platforms
- SQL Server 2016-2022
- Always On AG
- Azure SQL
- Amazon RDS for SQL Server
Proof
This is the same discipline behind our Managed Database Services practice: wait-statistics analysis, verified restores, and HA that's actually tested, not just configured.
Common questions
Is this project work or ongoing support?
Both exist. A health check is a fixed one-week engagement; ongoing coverage is available through our Managed Database Services retainer.
Do you support Azure SQL and Amazon RDS, not just on-premise?
Yes, including the managed-service differences that come with each platform.
What if our estate is small, just one or two instances?
Still worth a look. Small estates are exactly where a single missed index or an untested backup chain does the most damage relative to the effort to fix it.
Can you work alongside our existing developer who manages the database?
Yes, and that is the more common arrangement. We rarely displace an internal person; we add the depth they don't have time to build.
Related services
Bring the query that's been slow for months.
Most performance problems have a specific, findable cause. We'll help you find it before you buy more hardware.