You need a second technical read
Use this before upgrades, performance work, recovery planning, or a handed-over SQL Server becomes a bigger problem.
Consulting / Independent SQL Server consultant
Independent SQL Serverconsultant
I work directly with companies that need SQL Server reviewed before a production issue, upgrade, recovery concern, or support decision gets bigger.
Use this when you want one senior SQL Server person checking the details, explaining the risk, and telling you what to do next.
Fit
When an independent SQL Server consultant fits
This fits best when the SQL Server issue needs a technical read before it becomes a full project, support contract, or expensive production change.
The issue is not ready for a large vendor
The problem needs diagnosis before procurement, a managed service contract, or a larger delivery project makes sense.
The internal DBA capacity is thin
The company has people responsible for SQL Server, but not enough SQL Server depth for the issue in front of them.
You want the work kept close to the system
Logs, plans, jobs, backups, monitoring data, and settings should drive the recommendation.
Choosing the right help
Independent consultant, MSP, or internal DBA
| Need | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Focused SQL Server review or troubleshooting | Independent consultant | One senior person can check the details and give you the next steps without a larger vendor setup. |
| Daily ticket handling and long-term coverage | MSP or DBA support contract | That is a coverage problem, not a focused consulting job. |
| Routine internal maintenance | Internal DBA or IT owner | Regular checks and routine ownership should stay inside the company when the skills and time exist. |
| Large multi-platform delivery project | Larger vendor | Broad delivery across many systems usually needs more roles than one SQL Server consultant. |
| Narrow SQL Server task already defined | Matching service page | A health audit, performance review, upgrade support, or recovery review may be the cleaner start. |
SQL Server work
SQL Server work I can take on
I usually start by checking the part of SQL Server that matches the actual problem, then connect it to recovery, support, or change risk where needed.
Performance
Performance issues
Wait stats, blocking, deadlocks, query plans, indexing, statistics, tempdb pressure, and workload timing.
WaitsBlockingPlans
Review
Existing SQL Server review
Backups, SQL Agent jobs, CHECKDB, alerts, configuration, ownership, documentation, and recent failures.
BackupsAgentCHECKDB
Change
Upgrade and migration planning
Target version, compatibility level, test run, rollback, downtime, validation, and vendor constraints.
VersionRollbackValidation
Recovery
Recovery and disaster recovery
Restore testing, backup chains, RPO and RTO targets, failover behavior, certificates, jobs, and runbooks.
RestoreRPO/RTOFailover
Support
Monthly DBA support fit check
Whether the company needs occasional review, a scoped SQL Server service, or ongoing DBA help.
ScopeCadenceFit
First step
How the first step works
Start with the situation. Details come later if the work is a fit.
First message
Situation, urgency, production impact.
After fit check
Logs, plans, backup history, monitoring data.
Output
Findings, recommendations, what can wait.
Step
1. Send the situation
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Step
1. Send the situation
The first message only needs a short description, urgency, and whether production is affected.
Step
2. I tell you if it fits
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Step
2. I tell you if it fits
If a specific service or a larger provider is the better route, I will say that plainly.
Step
3. We agree what to check
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Step
3. We agree what to check
Logs, plans, monitoring data, backup history, or job output come later, after the work shape is clear.
Step
4. You get practical next steps
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Step
4. You get practical next steps
You get findings, recommended changes, and the items that can wait.
Not the right fit
When this is not the right fit
- You need 24/7 monitoring or NOC coverage.
- You need a permanent DBA replacement.
- You need a large Microsoft-stack delivery provider.
- The answer is already decided and you only need sign-off.
- You cannot share enough SQL Server detail to make a technical review useful.
Good first message
A short description is enough
Say what is happening, how urgent it is, and whether production is affected.
I do not need passwords, exports, screenshots, or a polished brief in the first contact.
Related pages
Related SQL Server pages
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SQL Server consulting
The main page for performance, recovery, upgrades, current setup reviews, and ongoing DBA help.
Open page
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Remote SQL Server consultant
For remote review, troubleshooting, upgrade planning, and recovery work.
Open page
Page
Monthly DBA support
For companies that need regular SQL Server review, troubleshooting, and planned-change help.
Open page
Page
SQL Server health audit
For backups, jobs, monitoring, configuration, tempdb, security, and ownership checks.
Open page
Page
SQL Server performance review
For slow periods, blocking, waits, deadlocks, query plans, and workload timing.
Open page
Contact
Need one SQL Server person to look at it?
Send a short note about the SQL Server issue, planned change, or concern. I will tell you whether consulting is the right next step.
A short description is enough for the first message.
FAQ
What does an independent SQL Server consultant do?
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I review SQL Server issues directly: performance, upgrades, recovery planning, current setup risks, and the next steps I would take.
Can the work be done remotely?
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Yes. Most SQL Server consulting can be done remotely when the right access, logs, plans, or monitoring data are available after the first fit check.
When is a larger vendor better?
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A larger vendor is usually better for 24/7 coverage, permanent staffing, or broad delivery across many systems.
Can you help before an upgrade or migration?
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Yes. I can check version targets, compatibility level, test run quality, rollback planning, downtime risk, and validation.
Can you check performance issues?
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Yes. I check waits, blocking, deadlocks, query plans, indexing, statistics, tempdb pressure, and workload timing.
What should I send first?
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Send a short note with the SQL Server issue, planned change, urgency, and whether production is affected.