IN PERSON MEETING!!!!! In the sprawling metropolis of SQL City, instances of non-compliance lurk in the shadows, threatening the harmony of your data haven. When manual methods feel like scaling skyscrapers barehanded, what's an SQL superhero to do? Behold, dbachecks – the caped crusader of PowerShell modules! Crafted by a league of community heroes, this tool lets you soar over SQL City, ensuring every nook and cranny is safeguarded. From the timeliness of CHECKDB and backups to the secret lairs of Query Store configurations, dbachecks has your heroic back. But wait, there’s more! Tailor its powers to your liking or decode the PowerBI signal in the sky, clear enough for sidekicks and city officials (yes, managers) alike. Dive into our superhero HQ to learn how to patrol your SQL universe, without having to invent your own supergadgets.

Greetings, data enthusiasts!

Our February meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 12th, at 5:30 pm! We will meet in person at: Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce, 90 4th Street, Troy, NY.

Please RSVP at https://www.meetup.com/capital-area-sql-server-user-group/events/297505605/ if you are attending, so we can purchase an appropriate amount of food for everyone. Food is TBA (will be announced closer to the event).

Our meeting schedule is as follows:

• 5:30 PM: Food, soft drinks, and networking
• 6:15 PM: Chapter news and announcements
• 6:30 PM: Presentation

We usually wrap up between 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM.

This month, Tracy Boggiano will be presenting: Migrating to Azure SQL Database: Because Life is Too Short to Manage Your Own Servers

Do you want to migrate to Azure SQL DB and finally get a good night's sleep, without having to worry about your servers misbehaving like a group of rowdy toddlers?

If so, we're tackling a topic near and dear to your hearts. That's where Azure SQL Database comes in - the cloud-based solution that lets us focus on what really matters (you know, living our lives). With its automatic backups, automated patching, and elastic scalability, we can finally say goodbye to the never-ending cycle of server management.

But let's not get too ahead of ourselves - we still need to make the migration and learn how to manage the database. From the initial planning stages to the final cutover, there are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong. But with a little bit of humor and a lot of caffeine, we can conquer anything that comes our way.

IN PERSON MEETING!!!!!

Description

Inside the Hero's Lair: An Advanced Dive into the Heart of SQL Audit’s Superpowers

Every superhero story has a sanctuary, a sanctum where heroes hone their incredible powers. For the guardians of database integrity and security, spanning the realms of on-prem and the vast Azure skies, that stronghold is SQL Audit. Join me as we delve deep into the Hero's Lair, where I'll share my personal experiences, the triumphs, and the pitfalls, to unveil the advanced capabilities of SQL Audit often hidden in plain sight. By journeying across traditional infrastructures and the cloud environments of Azure, you'll understand why turning to third-party tools feels like calling on a sidekick when the might of a superhero lies within. Together, we'll navigate the intricate mazes of filters, balance the scales of performance, and decipher the codes of security and compliance. Strap on your capes, esteemed data protectors, as we embark on an advanced exploration into the very essence of SQL Audit. In this domain, mastering SQL Audit's nuances is the ultimate superpower. So, come, learn from my adventures and misadventures, and ascend as the SQL Audit superhero the hybrid data realm of on-prem and Azure truly merits!

WHEN: Wednesday, January 10, 2024, 1700 GMT

DESCRIPTION of TALK

Title: Perf Tune Your Life with Atomic Habits

In the database of life, we often get fixated on the end result, forgetting the SQL syntax that gets us there. We obsess over the desired output (goals) but overlook the input and transactions (habits) required for success. This session, inspired by 'Atomic Habits' and sprinkled with some database humor, will explore how to optimize our path to success by treating daily habits like well-indexed systems. Join us as we refactor our life's code, turning daily habits into our own personal stored procedures for success. Expect a healthy dose of SQL puns and an exciting journey from SELECTing goals to INSERTing effective habits.

Enjoy reading interviews with more than two dozen data professionals to see a picture of what it’s like to work in the industry managing and analyzing data, helping you to know what it takes to move from your current expertise into one of the fastest growing areas of technology today. Data is the hottest word of the century, and data professionals are in high demand. You may already be a data professional such as a database administrator or business intelligence analyst. Or you may be one of the many people who want to work as a data professional, and are curious how to get there. Either way, this collection helps you understand how data professionals work, what makes them successful, and what they do to keep up. You’ll find interviews in this book with database administrators, database programmers, data architects, business intelligence professionals, and analytics professionals. Interviewees work across industry sectors ranging from healthcare and banking tofinance and transportation and beyond. Each chapter illuminates a successful professional at the top of their game, who shares what helped them get to the top, and what skills and attitudes combine to make them successful in their respective fields. Interviewees in the book include: Mindy Curnutt, Julie Smith, Kenneth Fisher, Andy Leonard, Jes Borland, Kevin Feasel, Ginger Grant, Vicky Harp, Kendra Little, Jason Brimhall, Tim Costello, Andy Mallon, Steph Locke, Jonathan Stewart, Joseph Sack, John Q. Martin, John Morehouse, Kathi Kellenberger, Argenis Fernandez, Kirsten Benzel, Tracy Boggiano, Dave Walden, Matt Gordon, Jimmy May, Drew Furgiuele, Marlon Ribunal, and Joseph Fleming. All of them have been successful in their careers, and share their perspectives on working and succeeding in the field as data and database professionals. What You'll Learn Stand out as an outstanding professional in your area of data work by developing the right set of skills and attitudes that lead to success Avoid common mistakes and pitfalls, and recover from operational failures and bad technology decisions Understand current trends and best practices, and stay out in front as the field evolves Break into working with data through database administration, business intelligence, or any of the other career paths represented in this book Manage stress and develop a healthy work-life balance no matter which career path you decide upon Choose a suitable path for yourself from among the different career paths in working with data Who This Book Is For Database administrators and developers, database and business intelligence architects, consultants, and analytic professionals, as well as those intent on moving into one of those career paths. Aspiring data professionals and those in related technical fields who want to make a move toward managing or analyzing data on a full-time basis will find the book useful. Existing data professionals who want to be outstanding and successful at what they do will also appreciate the book's advice and guidance.