Tagged: Meetings

Event link at our Meetup page.

• 5:30 Networking
• 6:00 Meeting

SQL Server Health Checks – A How-to Guide

The database servers underneath critical applications are quite complex, but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to learn how to keep it running efficiently. This highly technical session will help you lead an investigation into the performance of the database server and application databases. The SQL Server database environment will be examined in depth, including reasons to upgrade and how to save on SQL Server licensing costs. A rigorous health check from all the layers of SQL Server, including instance configuration, parallelization settings, and non-default performance and scalability improvements, will be introduced. Database-specific details designed to detect how your organization uses the database and options to improve its performance will also be discussed in detail. Valuable scripts, tips, and architecture concepts will be addressed so that you can perform a thorough analysis on your SQL Server environment.

David Klee

David Klee is a Microsoft MVP and VMware vExpert with a passion for the convergence of data, cloud, and infrastructure. David spends his days handling performance and HA/DR architecture of mission-critical SQL Servers as the Founder of Heraflux Technologies. His areas of expertise are virtualization and performance, datacenter architecture, and risk mitigation through high availability and disaster recovery. You can read his blog at davidklee.net, and reach him on Twitter at @kleegeek.

David speaks at a number of national and regional technology related events, including the PASS Summit, VMworld, IT/Dev Connections, SQL Saturday events, SQL Cruise, PASS virtual chapter webinars, and many SQL Server User Groups.

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Event link at our Meetup page.

• 5:30 Networking
• 6:00 Meeting

Security Compliance and Auditing for SQL Server and the Azure Data Platform (Part 2 of 2)

As security and privacy requirements increase, DBAs are being tasked with providing detailed information about the architecture and activity on their databases, both for governance and compliance. However, the regulations are many and complex, and they are often written generically so they can be applied to many different industries. How do you interpret the regulations? What do you actually need for proof? And how do you get that information out of SQL Server and Azure?

In this session, we’ll explore some of the most common cybersecurity frameworks for regulations and cyber insurance, and we’ll break them down to understand how to architect your data platform for compliance. We’ll also look at how to use the tools available from Microsoft to get the proof you need. By the end of the day, you’ll have a plan for compliance that you can start implementing.

Ed Leighton-Dick

Ed Leighton-Dick is a Microsoft MVP, SQL Server performance and architecture specialist, and Founder/Principal Consultant of Kingfisher Technologies. He is a frequent volunteer with PASS, including roles as regional mentor, chapter leader of I-380 PASS SQL Server User Group, and organizer of SQLSaturday Iowa City. He can often be found teaching sessions at local, regional, and national events, including user groups, SQLSaturday, and PASS Summit. 

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Event link at our Meetup page.

• 5:30 Networking
• 6:00 Meeting

Security Compliance and Auditing for SQL Server and the Azure Data Platform (Part 1 of 2)

As security and privacy requirements increase, DBAs are being tasked with providing detailed information about the architecture and activity on their databases, both for governance and compliance. However, the regulations are many and complex, and they are often written generically so they can be applied to many different industries. How do you interpret the regulations? What do you actually need for proof? And how do you get that information out of SQL Server and Azure?

In this session, we’ll explore some of the most common cybersecurity frameworks for regulations and cyber insurance, and we’ll break them down to understand how to architect your data platform for compliance. We’ll also look at how to use the tools available from Microsoft to get the proof you need. By the end of the day, you’ll have a plan for compliance that you can start implementing.

Ed Leighton-Dick

Ed Leighton-Dick is a Microsoft MVP, SQL Server performance and architecture specialist, and Founder/Principal Consultant of Kingfisher Technologies. He is a frequent volunteer with PASS, including roles as regional mentor, chapter leader of I-380 PASS SQL Server User Group, and organizer of SQLSaturday Iowa City. He can often be found teaching sessions at local, regional, and national events, including user groups, SQLSaturday, and PASS Summit. 

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Event link at our Meetup page.

• 5:30 Networking
• 6:00 Meeting

Unlocking Prompt Engineering for DBAs: Revolutionizing Database Management with AI Assistance

As you know, tools like ChatGPT and the newly released Gemini are making waves in how we approach database querying and management tasks. Over the past months, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with AI subject matter experts and delve deeply into how these tools can be leveraged effectively. When used correctly and wisely, they can significantly enhance productivity, streamline operations, and simplify problem-solving for DBAs.

Interestingly, the idea for this session came to me after a curious interaction with ChatGPT. I asked the same SQL-related question six times, and each time, it gave me the wrong answer. When I changed just one word—making the question sound grammatically incorrect—it finally produced the correct response. This experience highlighted the importance of how we ask questions when working with AI tools.

The goal of this presentation is to provide practical, actionable insights for the group:
– Know what to ask: Tips for crafting effective prompts to get the most accurate and useful AI responses.
– Know what to expect: Understanding the limitations and evolving nature of black-box AI tools.
– Know which model to use and when: Guidance on selecting the right AI model for specific tasks or scenarios.
– Know how to use the output: Strategies for verifying, refining, and applying AI-generated suggestions.

Leo Custodio

Leo Custodio is a data specialist and SQL enthusiast with over 15 years of expertise in data analysis, data security, systems architecture, and software design. With a master’s degree in computer science and numerous industry certifications, he has worked extensively with a variety of data science tools, including R, SPSS, Databricks, Spark, and MongoDB, to build robust data infrastructures. His experience spans deriving insights from complex datasets and implementing security measures to protect sensitive information. Passionate about the latest in database technologies, Leo actively shares his knowledge with the technical community, making advanced concepts accessible and practical.

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Event link at our Meetup page.

• 5:30 Networking
• 6:00 Meeting

SQL Server PostgreSQL Throwdown

•About four years ago maybe a little longer the company was developing some systems which involved AWS Aurora. I was asked to support them, and did.

•The request shifted to straight PostgreSQL because of the need to be on prem as well as in the cloud.

•Anyway always in the back of my mind was the decision as to why PostgreSQL. Why not SQL Server ?

•So hence this presentation of the SQL Server PostgreSQL Throwdown. Something on the order of the Bobby Flay Throwdown cooking shows.

H. Ross Reed

H. Ross Reed – DBA for over 25 Years Developer prior to being a DBA . Lead DBA SQL Server at The OCC. User group leader of The Chicago Data Professionals.

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Event link at our Meetup page.

• 5:30 Networking
• 6:00 Meeting

Exploring PostgreSQL: Features, Strengths, and Comparisons with SQL Server

PostgreSQL has become a powerhouse in the database world, known for its open-source nature and extensive capabilities. This presentation will introduce PostgreSQL, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, compare it with SQL Server, and delve into its environment setup, basic functionalities, and advanced features.

In this session, we will cover:
● Introduction to PostgreSQL: Learn about PostgreSQL, its core focus areas, and where it excels or may not be ideal for use.
● Comparison: PostgreSQL vs. SQL Server: An in-depth comparison of key aspects like licensing, platform support, data types, tools, performance, support, and backup/recovery options.
● PostgreSQL Environment & Setup: Explore various installation methods (Linux, Windows, macOS, Docker, Cloud-based), initial configurations, and key tools for interacting with PostgreSQL.
● Basic PostgreSQL Functionality: Understand how to connect to PostgreSQL, create schemas and tables, perform data queries, and manage transactions.
● Advanced PostgreSQL Features: Dive into advanced functionalities such as partitioning, Foreign Data Wrappers (FDWs), replication, high availability, performance tuning, and query optimization.
● Recap, Resources, & Q&A: We’ll summarize key concepts, provide resources for further learning, and open the floor for questions.

You will leave this session with a comprehensive understanding of PostgreSQL and how it compares to SQL Server, gaining insights into its features, setup, and how it can be leveraged for various data management needs.

Leo Custodio

Leo Custodio is a data specialist and SQL enthusiast with over 15 years of expertise in data analysis, data security, systems architecture, and software design. With a master’s degree in computer science and numerous industry certifications, he has worked extensively with a variety of data science tools, including R, SPSS, Databricks, Spark, and MongoDB, to build robust data infrastructures. His experience spans deriving insights from complex datasets and implementing security measures to protect sensitive information. Passionate about the latest in database technologies, Leo actively shares his knowledge with the technical community, making advanced concepts accessible and practical.

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Event link at our Meetup page.

• 5:30 Networking
• 6:00 Meeting

Mastering Dynamic SQL

Dynamic SQL has a bad reputation. Some of it is even deserved. However, dynamic SQL can be a great tool to have in your toolbox when used correctly.

In this session, we’ll dive into creating and troubleshooting dynamic SQL syntax. We will start by examining various scenarios that would be good candidates for implementation. Then we’ll take a look at how it executes under the covers. We’ll discuss ways of smarter and safer ways of crafting our SQL statements. And of course, we will discuss various ways to debug the statements as well as add error handling.

You will leave this session with a better understanding and appreciation for how dynamic SQL works as well as why and when to use it.

Deborah Melkin

Deborah Melkin has been working as a database professional with SQL Server for over 20 years. She spends her days helping coworkers with all aspects of database design, queries, performance, documentation, and deployment. In 2016, she began her blog, Deb the DBA. Soon after that, she began speaking at SQL Saturdays and user groups. Deborah is a board member of the New England SQL Server User group (NESQL) and a member of the Azure Data Community Advisory Council. She was named “One To Watch” as part of the #Redgate100 and won Speaker Idol at PASS Summit 2019. Deborah is also a Microsoft MVP for the Data Platform.

In her spare time, Deborah can usually be found doing something musical or doing something geeky with her husband, Andy, and dog, Sebastian.

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Event link at our Meeting page.

• 5:30 Networking
• 6:00 Meeting

5 Critical Considerations When Moving Your Database to the Cloud

Migrating an existing on-premises SQL Server application to the cloud can be a daunting task that consists of many complicated steps. In this webinar, we will focus on what is perhaps the MOST important step of the process – those that lead up to the actual move to the cloud.

We will dive deep into the most critical considerations for moving your data and databases into the cloud, whether you use Microsoft Azure, Amazon, or another cloud provider.

We will cover:

• Forecasting how much migration will cost
• The importance of cleansing your data before a major migration
• Fully documenting your data sources and metadata
• Choosing from many different tools and techniques to actually move data
• How to test data for fidelity
• How to maintain parallel systems during transitional phases

Attend this session with one of the industry’s database top experts!

Kevin Kline

Kevin Kline is a noted database expert and software industry veteran. A 20-year Microsoft Data Platform MVP and noted community leader in the IT industry, Kevin is a founder and former president of the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS.ORG), as well as the author of popular IT books including the bestseller “SQL in a Nutshell”. Kevin is a top-rated speaker at industry trade shows worldwide and has a monthly column at Database Trends & Applications magazine (DBTA.com). His product designs for database tools have won numerous awards at industry trade shows and from a variety of trade magazines. He is on social media as @kekline and blogs regularly.

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Event link at our Meetup page.

• 5:30 pm Networking
• 6:00 pm Meeting

Parallelism in Azure SQL

SQL Server can execute queries in parallel which can sometimes improve the performance of your queries. However, parallelism has its own challenges; therefore, we will look at the concept of parallel executions to understand when it makes sense to run a query on more than one thread. We deal with topics such as CXPacket, threads, workers, execution context, branches, MAXDOP, Cost threshold for parallelism, NUMA nodes and the iterators that SQL Server can implement in the execution plan to enable parallelism.

Torsten Strauss

Torsten (MVP, MCSE, MCT) has been working with Microsoft SQL Server since the turn of the millennium and is specialized in performance optimization for large SQL Server environments.

He has been with bp as a Senior Software Engineer for over two decades and collaborates closely with Sarpedon Quality Lab as a Principal Microsoft SQL Server Consultant.

Torsten has given more than 200 presentations on Microsoft SQL Server performance optimization at national and international conferences and user groups.

Torsten has been recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for Data Platform since 2018.

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Event link at our Meetup page.

• 5:30 pm Networking
• 6:00 pm Meeting

Securing your Azure SQL Database using TDE, Always Encrypted and more

Protecting the data is one of the prime responsibilities of the DBA. During this session we will cover some of the features of Azure and Azure SQL Database that will help make our data more secure. We will cover how to implement TDE, Always Encrypted, Always Encrypted with Secure Enclaves, Azure Locks and a brief introduction to firewalls.

Dave Bland

Manager of Database Administrators, Stericycle

Over 20 years of SQL Server experience that includes being a DBA, BI development and Application development using VB.NET.  Dave currently is the Manager of the DBA team at Stericycle.  Dave is a Friend of Red-Gate for 2019.  He is a frequent presenter at SQL Saturday events and user groups around the country.  Has been teaching SQL Server since version 2000 and is the SQL Server instructor at Harper College in Palatine, IL.  Current certifications include: Microsoft Certified Trainer; MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance; MCTS: SQL Server 2008, BI Development and Maintenance; MCSA: SQL Server 2008; MCSA: SQL Server 2016; MCSE: SQL Server 2016 – BI; MCDBA: SQL Server 2000; MCSD; MCSE: Data Management and Analytics.

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