Article Library, Page 3
Every Red9 article in one place, most recently updated first. Written by the senior DBAs who do the work.
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Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningMethods for Performance Tuning on Azure SQL DatabaseSince Azure SQL Database is database-scoped, there are some significant differences when it comes to performance tuning.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningWhen Was the Last Time Your SQL Server Wait Stats Were Cleared?Wait statistics tell you exactly what SQL Server is waiting on. The top wait types, what each one means, and the query to find your worst offenders.
Guide · SQL Server SecurityLittle Bobby Tables and SQL Injection?The xkcd Bobby Tables comic in plain English: what the SQL injection joke means, why it actually works, and the one line of code that stops it.
Guide · SQL Server Health CheckIs Your SQL Server Generating Dump Files?Learn what a dump file is and why it matters. Get precise steps to find and fix SQL Server dump files quickly.
Client Result · SQL Server Performance TuningHow SQL Tuning Saved Six Figures and Cut Cores by 75%A client was about to buy more cores. We tuned queries and indexes instead, cut CPU 75%, and saved six figures in licensing. Here is what we changed.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningYou Scaled Your VM to 32 Cores. Your TempDB Configuration Didn’tYou scaled the VM but SQL Server did not get faster. TempDB contention is often why, and adding cores can make it worse. How to configure TempDB right.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningSQL Server Parameter Sniffing: What It Is and How to Fix ItWhen a query that was fast turns slow for no reason, parameter sniffing is often why. What causes it and five fixes, from RECOMPILE to Query Store.
Research & StatisticsData Analytics Statistics (2026)88% of organizations now use AI, but only 12% say their data is AI-ready. See 40+ data analytics statistics for 2026, each dated and primary-sourced.
Research & Statistics40+ Big Data Statistics (2026): Market Size, Volume & TrendsEvery number dated and traced to a primary source: market size, data volume, cloud spend, jobs and privacy. 40+ big data statistics for 2026.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningWhy Your App Got Slow After Migrating SQL Server to AzureWe tuned compute, IOPS, and tempdb. Users still complained. Here's what actually caused the slowdown, and how to test for it before you cut over.
Guide · SQL Server TipsHow to Spend $10k on SQL Monitoring and Still Fix NothingSome companies spend more on monitoring dashboards than on the DBAs who read them. Why the tool-to-expertise ratio matters more than the tool you buy.
Client Result · SQL Server Health CheckVM Snapshots Are Not SQL Server Backups: A Disaster Recovery StoryA SQL Server cluster died with no native backups - only VM snapshots. Here's what went wrong, how we recovered it, and what a proper backup strategy looks like.
Guide · SQL Server TipsStop Running Other Applications on Your SQL ServerBefore you add cores or upgrade licenses, check one common mistake that quietly wrecks SQL Server performance.
Client Result · SQL Server TipsA Client Lost 1.5 Months of Data and It Wasn’t a CyberattackA client panicked after a server move, forced emergency mode, overwrote the MDF, and lost 6 weeks of data. The backup chain was already broken.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningYour SQL Server Is Logging Deadlocks – Are You Reading Them?A DBA flew blind for 2 years while SQL Server recorded every deadlock. The fix was already built in. They just never queried it.
Client Result · SQL Server TipsSQL Server Emergency Recovery: How We Saved a Corrupted Database Without BackupsWe recovered a corrupted SQL Server database without backups after a hard drive crash. Here's the emergency recovery process and what it actually cost.
Guide · SQL Server TipsWhat Is MySQL? How It Works and When to Use ItWhat is MySQL? A practical guide for dev teams covering how it works, what it’s best at, and when to choose it over other databases.
Guide · SQL Server TipsUsing PowerShell to Monitor Disk UsagePart of the database and system administrator's daily routine consists of monitoring disk usage. It can be achieved manually; however, it is much more logical
Guide · SQL Server TipsSelecting the Right Database for Your ApplicationTrying to pick the right database for your app? This guide breaks down 8 types, from key-value to graph and ledger, to help you choose the best fit.
Guide · SQL Server SecurityUnlock the Secrets: How to Choose the Best Encryption Feature for SQL ServerExplore SQL Server and Azure encryption technologies. Learn how to choose and combine them for layered security. Find the best option for you!
Guide · SQL Server SecuritySQL Server Migration to Amazon RDSWe talked about availability and security best practices on Amazon RDS. Completing the series of posts, today we will know about Migration on Amazon RDS using
Guide · SQL Server Migrations & UpgradesSQL Server Installation Configuration GuideGet SQL Server installation right before the first query runs. Check storage, features, instance settings and service-account permissions.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningComparing Performance of Two SQL Servers: Part 2Compare SQL Server performance with a replay of the same workload. This legacy guide walks through capture, replay and per-query results.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningComparing Performance of Two SQL Servers: Part 1SQL Server performance testing should use your real workload. This legacy Distributed Replay guide compares old and new servers before you migrate.
Research & StatisticsOutsourcing Statistics 2026Every outsourcing number worth knowing in 2026, each dated and linked to a primary source: market size, AI's impact, top countries, and where spend goes.
Guide · SQL Server SecuritySQL Server Security Best Practices: The 12-Step HierarchyLearn the 12-step SQL Server security hierarchy that 87% of companies get backwards. Start with 5-minute implementations that provide 80% protection.
Guide · SQL Server Tips9 Sample SQL Databases for Practice to Download & Set Up in MinutesDownload free SQL databases for practice, including AdventureWorks, Northwind, Chinook & more. Setup instructions for SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL.
Client Result · SQL Server Performance TuningHow We Slashed SQL Query Disk Read Operations by 1,152 TimesDiscover a simple optimization trick that reduced the number of disk reads from over 800k to less than 1k. Click to read the step-by-step guide!
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningHow to Eliminate SQL Server Migrations Performance Degradation Risks With Distributed Replay (DReplay)SQL Server migration performance can get worse on newer hardware. See how this legacy Distributed Replay example catches queries that regress.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningWhy Disk Operations Matter the Most When Tuning T-SQL Calls for PerformanceSQL Server disk reads can become a bottleneck. See how unnecessary scans increase I/O and why reducing reads can make queries do less work.
Guide · SQL Server TipsThe Risks of SQL Server Differential BackupsSQL Server differential backups depend on the right full backup. See what changes the backup base and what you need for a successful restore.
Guide · SQL Server Health CheckSQL Server Startup ParametersWhen you install SQL Server, setup writes a set of default startup options in the Microsoft Windows registry that influences how it is started.