SSWUG Virtual Conference Presentations

For the first time, i will have the honor of presenting a few topics at the SSWUG Virtual Conference on April 22-24th.

It was suggested by my handler (Chris Shaw) that I submit as many topics as possible, to ensure that I get at least 1 accepted. So, I submitted a slew of them, and had 4 regular sessions accepted, and 3 uplink sessions accepted.

Now, I am going thru them, making sure that they are in a good state to present, and practicing. One of the topics I presented at my UG last month. I will present another one in March.


vConference abstracts


Auditing your Users
Periodically, an auditor would stop by my desk and ask me to show them all the users and their permission’s on a particular database. Most of us know how to do this, and it is easily gathered. Typically, the next question is ‘What has changed?’. After a couple iterations of this, you will realize that you need to devise a way to store this information to adequately respond to this question. A snapshot of the user information needs to be gathered from time to time, and stored. In this presentation, we’ll discuss reasons for storing this information, show code for tables, and explain processes that will enable you to quickly and effectively answer the auditors requests in a consistent and timely manner.


Best Practices
Having worked with databases for some time now, I felt it important to get some best practices documented. This presentation will touch on the simple things that we often take for granted while using our favorite database systems. From naming conventions, to cursors, to temporary, derived and variable tables, to the use of dynamic sql. We’ll touch on a great many different ideas and hopefully further cement your own best practices, making you a more exceptional DBA or Database Developer.


Job execution system
In a production environment, as a DBA protecting the environment, you do not want to give out Admin rights to many, if any individuals in the company. Granting the least possible permissions needed is the desired route. This is a protection for the system you have a responsibility to care for. However, people often need to gain access to perform their job functions. When folks need jobs to be executed outside of the normal execution times, how do we solve this dilemma? This presentation will detail a system that solves this problem.


Monitor Index Fragmentation
As our databases are being used, our index fragmentation can tend to increase. Having an automated system that defrags or removes the fragmentation is necessary. Even a rarely used system will peak the fragmentation with their periodic executions. Keeping track of the level of fragmentation prior to and after fragmentation has been removed will help gather metrics on your systems. Automating this process will relieve pressure on your on-call staff, pressure on your database system, and even increase performance. Let’s discuss ways to accomplish this task.


ITUplink sessions

SQL Server Profiler and Tracing
We have all needed to know what is happening in our database systems. We have often been tasked with finding poor performing queries. Maybe we are being hit with Auditing and Compliance needs. All these and many more issues can be resolved with SQL Server Profiler. Maybe with SQL Server Trace. But which one, and when?
Auditing databases can be tiresome, but a good trace and supporting reports can really help out.
This presentation will show you some of my own ideas, along with others' ideas on best uses for Profiler and Trace.
Once armed with this knowledge, you should be able to take it back to your shops and implement systems that assist you track down these issues more easily.


Auditing & Compliance and the DBA
Sarbanes-Oxley laws are changing the way companies collect, retain, and manage information. Database Administrators need to understand what is happening in the corporate business world, what auditors will be seeking and how it will directly impact their job role. What do auditors want? And how can we help?
This is one DBA’s tale of auditing his databases for modifications. There will be many different ways that you can approach this task, and reach a solution. I will explain how I reached my solution, and give you some good ideas of how to accomplish a similar task, for your own systems.


I am excited to participate in this event. I hope that my sessions go well, are informational, and help people out.