What is the difference between a SQL Login and a SQL User? In simple words, a login is for authentication and a user is for authorization. A short video.
The SQL Server Permission Hierarchy
Understand the SQL Server permission hierarchy from server to database, schema, and object, including GRANT, DENY, and role paths.
Granular Server Roles: ##MS_ServerStateReader## and Friends
Assign granular server roles in SQL Server 2022, inspect membership, and give monitoring accounts the state access their queries need.
Auditing Failed Logins With the Error Log and Extended Events
Investigate failed logins with the SQL Server error log and a focused Extended Events session, then group attempts and decide what to do.
Auditing WITH GRANT OPTION: Who Can Hand Out Permissions
Audit WITH GRANT OPTION at database and server scope, trace delegated permissions, and remove delegation with a reviewed CASCADE plan.
Regaining sysadmin Access When Nobody Can Log In
Regaining sysadmin access starts with single-user SQL Server, a local sqlcmd connection, and a controlled Windows admin group.
SQL SERVER – Importance of User Without Login
Some questions are very open ended. Here is one question I was asked in recent User Group Meeting about user without login.