Database Administration Services | SQL Server & PostgreSQL

FAQs

Database security is implemented through multiple layers of protection and follows industry best practices for both SQL Server and PostgreSQL environments. We implement role-based access control ensuring users have only the minimum permissions required for their responsibilities. All administrative actions are logged for audit purposes, and we configure alerts for suspicious activity or unauthorised access attempts.

We enforce encryption at rest for sensitive data and encryption in transit for all database connections. Regular security assessments identify potential vulnerabilities, including reviewing user permissions, evaluating exposed endpoints, and checking for outdated software versions or missing security patches. For SQL Server environments, we leverage features like Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), Always Encrypted, and row-level security. For PostgreSQL, we implement SSL connections, pg_audit logging, and appropriate authentication methods. We work with your security teams to ensure compliance with relevant regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) and industry standards. All our DBAs sign comprehensive confidentiality agreements, and we follow strict data handling procedures. We also implement backup encryption and secure offsite storage to protect data even in disaster scenarios.

Our backup and disaster recovery approach is tailored to your specific Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) requirements. We implement multiple backup tiers including full, differential, and transaction log backups scheduled based on your data criticality and change rate. All backups are encrypted and tested regularly to ensure recoverability.

For SQL Server, we typically implement a combination of native backups with compression, supplemented by transaction log backups as frequent as every 15 minutes for mission-critical systems. We leverage Always On Availability Groups or log shipping for high-availability scenarios. For PostgreSQL, we use continuous archiving with point-in-time recovery capabilities, implementing streaming replication where high availability is required. We maintain multiple backup copies across different storage tiers - local disk for rapid restores, offsite storage for disaster recovery, and cloud storage for geographic redundancy. Our disaster recovery plans include documented recovery procedures, regular testing (at least quarterly for critical systems), and clearly defined escalation processes. We provide detailed recovery documentation and conduct recovery drills to ensure your team can execute recovery procedures if needed.

Our performance monitoring approach combines automated continuous monitoring with regular proactive analysis. We implement comprehensive monitoring solutions that track key metrics including CPU utilisation, memory pressure, disk I/O patterns, wait statistics, blocking chains, and query execution times. Alerts are configured with intelligent thresholds to notify us of performance degradation before it impacts end users.

For SQL Server, we leverage tools such as Extended Events, Query Store, and custom monitoring scripts to capture performance baselines and identify anomalies. For PostgreSQL, we utilise pg_stat_statements, pg_stat_activity, and various performance-focused extensions to track query performance and resource consumption. We establish performance baselines during the initial assessment period, allowing us to identify deviations from normal operation quickly.

Our optimisation process includes regular index analysis to identify missing indexes, unused indexes consuming resources, and fragmented indexes requiring maintenance. We analyse query execution plans to identify inefficient queries and work with your development teams to implement optimisations. We perform capacity planning reviews to identify growth trends and recommend infrastructure adjustments before performance impacts occur. Monthly performance reports detail resource utilisation trends, top resource-consuming queries, performance improvements implemented, and recommended actions.

Database Administration

Professional Database Administration Services for Mission-Critical Systems.

Your Trusted Partner for Database Administration Services

Our Database Administration Services Include:

Daily database health monitoring and maintenance

Index maintenance and statistics updates

Database consistency checks and integrity validation

User account and security management

Query performance analysis and optimisation

Blocking and deadlock resolution

Space management and growth planning

Log file management and transaction log optimisation

Database configuration optimisation

Scheduled job creation and monitoring

Documentation and standard operating procedures

24/7 emergency support and troubleshooting

End-to-End DBA

Our Process

1. Initial assessment

2. Customised plan

3. Implementation

4. Ongoing support

FAQs

Trusted by Industry

Other Services

Server Management

Database Design and Architecture