A clustered instance would not start: Error 26014, unable to load user-specified certificate. What the ERRORLOG showed and how we got SQL Server running again.
SQL SERVER – Log Shipping Copy Job Failure – The Password for This Account Has Expired
A reader’s log shipping copy job was failing with ‘The password for this account has expired’. Here is how we found the cause and fixed it.
SQL SERVER – Best Practices About SQL Server Service Account and Password Management
Should the SQL Server Service Account be a local or domain admin? No. Best practices from a client Q&A on service accounts, permissions and passwords.
Calling a REST API From T-SQL With sp_invoke_external_rest_endpoint
Use sp_invoke_external_rest_endpoint in SQL Server 2025 with controlled permissions, JSON responses, protected credentials, and retries.
SQL SERVER – How to Find Out When Your SQL Login Will Expire?
A client wanted a script to show when each SQL login will expire. LOGINPROPERTY makes it easy on SQL 2008 onwards. Here is the query I used.
SQL SERVER 2016 – Encrypt Your PII Data – Notes from the Field #132
Mike Lawell found a client storing personal information in clear text. He explains how SQL Server 2016 encryption options can protect your PII data.
SQL Server Audit: Tracking Who Read or Changed Sensitive Tables
Configure SQL Server Audit for reads and changes, inspect file records by user and time, and plan retention and target failures.