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SQL Server Consulting

Below you will learn everything you need know about our SQL Server Consulting Service. From database design to trouble shooting SQL server problems, our SQL server experts are on hand to assist. We have listed some ways in which SQL Server Consultants can help to transform your business.

MS SQL Consulting Services List

Emergency SQL Support

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Use this when your SQL Server is on fire, down or won’t start. We will work on the issue for as long as it is needed. We are able to fix the majority of possible issues within hours. Find out more about our Emergency SQL Server Support services.

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SQL Performance Tuning

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Use this when your Microsoft SQL Server is too slow or you simply wish it ran faster. Maybe a lot faster. This can be done in three ways:

  1. Tune the SQL Server settings in the way that affects *ALL* queries it is processing.

  2. Tune one (or a few) problematic queries that are taking too long or consuming too many resources (using too much memory or CPU).

  3. Perform *PERIODIC* performance tuning every month (only the best of the best do this, so don’t feel bad just yet). Every week, every month, every quarter (pick your duration), take the top worst performers (most problematic queries) and figure out how to make them go faster (or tune them, as SQL DBAs say) – proactively attacking performance issues. And if this process is done right and for a while, it will eventually make your SQL Server blazing fast.

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SQL Projects

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This is a ‘catch-all’ service. We can’t list every single project we can take. The best time to use this option is when you need ongoing SQL DBA services for a larger project that will take more than a week to complete.

Step by step how SQL Consulting works

  • Initial consultation – First, we get on the phone with a SQL Server Consulting expert. We will want to know the exact problem you are experiencing when it started and what successful engagement means to you (so we know how to kick it out of the park).

  • Architecture – we may ask some questions about your SQL architecture. We may make some recommendations around database design.

  • Planning – do you want us to “diagnose only” or “fix as we go”, during what hours we can do SQL work, are there is DEV, QA or UAT boxes that can be used for testing potential fixes when are the busiest/slowest times of the day/week, do you have planned downtime, and if yes, when, etc.

  • Backups & Disaster Recovery – before we do anything, first we will make sure all backups are in place and there is an adequate disaster recovery process in places. This applies to cases when we are making SQL changes. This does not happen when we are in “diagnose only” mode.

  • Implementation – the part clients love the most – you sit back and relax (maybe put some Netflix on) and wait for our status updates showing how we got your issue fixed. Maybe it is not this easy every time, but we certainly try!

  • Project completion – this is where we wrap up loose ends. We will send you all the documentation of what was done, SQL scripts we ran, finish up all incomplete items, tell you where we are, and basically prepare to leave your environment in your hands (unless you fall in love with us, and decide to keep us for a while).

  • Training – here we make sure that you know what to do when you take over your SQL server after we’re gone. Very valuable when needed.

  • Support – we won’t let you suffer. If there is anything you need, you can contact us, we will re-engage and help you. This only applies to your SQL problems though.

Why Use Us For SQL Server Consulting?

  1. Testimonials on our site

  2. Our founder was (and maybe still is) a TOP RATED SQL DBA on Upwork

  3. Proven track record – nothing proves good work like testimonials from past clients.

  4. Experience in SQL – All our database administrators are Microsoft certified. Certification alone is not proof a DBA is good, but I think it helps. Only when it is coupled with all of the other proof we have!

  5. SQL Security – we have been doing SQL work for 17+ years. We have literally touched (full disclosure – mostly over RDP) thousands of SQL Servers, tens thousands of databases, and a hundred plus clients. If we were up to no good, I doubt I’d be writing this.

  6. SQL Server Consulting – we *only* work with SQL Servers. No Oracle, MySQL, NoSQL, PostgreSQL, IBM, Cassandra, or whatever other providers. It is just too complex to cover them all.

  7. Value – where else can you get top-notch Sr. level database admin with that much proof of who will work on your issue?

  8. SQL Server Experts – We only work on Microsoft SQL Servers. Nothing else. We also don’t do everything on SQL Servers. The product is just too big to cover all the things that are possible. We concentrate on DBA type of items, and the majority of the work we do is SQL Server Performance Tuning related. And we have been doing it for years.

  9. Dedication – SQL Servers are all we know.

  10. We know SQL Server surrounding technologies well – such as SAN or SAN load testing, hardware, Active Directory, Windows OS (obviously), PowerShell and PowerShell Desired State Configuration (workflows, automation), performance monitoring, a bit of C#, and a couple of others. But if SQL Server was discontinued tomorrow – we would have a BIG problem! Because this is all we know.

  11. We have worked with many types of businesses – from popular websites with a couple of people behind the curtain, up to major brands with 50,000 employees and are on the Fortune 500 list.

Looking SQL Server Consultancy?

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  1. We suggest you do this:

  2. Look for trust items (such as testimonials).

  3. Does the DBA (or firm) work on more than one platform like Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL? That’s a major negative – being an expert on one platform is already hard enough; working on many means you are just average on a bunch of them.

  4. What do customers say?

  5. How far back does their online profile go?

  6. And most importantly, do a technical interview. Ignore all online tests. I haven’t seen a good online test yet. A good DBA will not want to waste time on that junk anyway. Here is a quick hack you can do: if you are not a DBA, hire one on Upwork.com (pick someone for $100+ per hour) and have him interview your potential DBAs. Make sure your potential DBA can pass another DBA test. I have seen probably 200-300 DBA resumes and hired probably 20-30 DBAs and SQL Developers. A resume usually doesn’t help much – most look great. It is how the person performs during the interview. We have interviewed over 200+ DBAs and we have pretty tough questions (we are going to be the Bad Cop). Our questions are situational, and allow us to drill deeper into situations based on where the person stands in terms of experience. You can’t BS through our questions; you know it, or you don’t, and the questions make the applicant sweat a bit. Is this person qualified to touch production SQL Servers?

  7. Still not ready to go ahead with us as you SQL Server Consulting partner? Or still don’t trust us or have a nagging worry about who will be touching your production database?

  8. You don’t know how many databases we dropped in the past, or how many clusters we set on fire, after all. Test us on a small SQL server consulting engagement. Trusting someone you have never seen with your PROD db is a bit…irresponsible. We get it.

  9. Let’s get on the call and we will walk you through how we will keep your database safe, and answer any question you have.

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If you have questions, please reach out using the “Contact Us” form or call us at 770-776-6760.

Our Other Services

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

“Working with Chris at Nuance Communications has been a pleasure. Chris is a great team player, has expert knowledge of SQL Server database administration, and is always willing to go the extra mile to get the project done.” 

—  Sr. Database Administrator, Etrigue Communications

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