SQL Server / monthly DBA support

Monthly SQL Server DBA support

Regular senior SQL Server help without hiring a full-time DBA.

I help with backups, jobs, monitoring, performance issues, upgrades, restore testing, and planned changes through monthly DBA support.

Monthly agreementRemote SQL Server reviewBackups / jobs / monitoringPerformance / recovery / upgradesNo access needed before first contact

How it works Consulting

How monthly support works

Support starts with a fit check. If it makes sense, we agree the first SQL Server areas to review, the access boundary, and how monthly work should be prioritized.

Fit call

Confirm the SQL Server situation, urgency, access limits, and whether monthly support makes sense.

First review

Check the agreed starting areas: backups, jobs, monitoring, errors, recent incidents, and planned changes.

Monthly work

Review agreed areas, look at recurring issues, and support planned work before it turns into an incident.

Priority list

Keep a short list of fixes, risks, decisions, and the next safe details to share.

Who benefits from monthly DBA support

Companies where SQL Server is important, but nobody has enough time to keep checking it properly.

There is no full-time DBA, or SQL Server is only part of someone else's job.

Backups, restores, monitoring, SQL Agent jobs, or maintenance need regular review.

Performance problems, failed jobs, or operational questions keep coming back.

An upgrade, audit, migration, or high availability review is likely in the next few months.

How the monthly support is handled

We start with a fit check and choose the first SQL Server areas to review.

Each month covers review, troubleshooting, planned changes, and the current priority list.

Small issues are handled as part of support. Larger items are scoped separately before work starts.

You get a simple record of findings, decisions, and next steps.

First 30 days

The first month should make the support useful without pretending everything can be fixed immediately.

Access and sensitive data wait until the work is agreed.

Week 1

Fit check, SQL Server context, access boundary, and the first review scope.

Week 2

Baseline review of agreed areas such as backups, jobs, monitoring, errors, and recent incidents.

Week 3

Discuss findings, immediate risks, and the work that should happen first.

Week 4

Agree the monthly pattern, priority list, and what needs a separate scoped review.

What is included in monthly DBA support

Operational checks

BackupsSQL Agent jobserror logsstorage growthmaintenanceintegrity checks

Performance work

waitsblockingdeadlocksslow queriesquery plansindexesstatisticstempdb

Recovery and availability

restore testingbackup chainRPO/RTOAlways Onfailover notesrunbooks

Planned changes

patchesCUsupgradesmigrationscompatibility checksrollback planning

Communication

monthly summaryfindingsdecisionspriority listnext safe details to share

The exact mix depends on the agreement, the servers, and the access that makes sense. The goal is simple: keep the important SQL Server risks visible, handle recurring issues earlier, and make planned changes easier to prepare.

Choose the level of support

Some companies only need a regular review. Others need more time around recurring issues, high availability, or planned changes.

Final scope depends on the servers, access, urgency, and agreement.

Light monthly review

For companies that mainly need regular checks and a short priority list.

Regular DBA support

For recurring issues, planned changes, and monthly review of agreed areas.

More coverage

For high availability, frequent incidents, or a larger SQL Server responsibility.

Monthly DBA support vs alternatives

Full-time DBA

SQL Server needs daily ownership inside the company.

Ad hoc consulting

There is one defined problem and no need for follow-up review.

Monthly DBA support

SQL Server matters, but ongoing senior review is enough.

24/7 managed service

Formal incident response, on-call cover, and SLA-backed support are required.

Monthly summary example

The format changes by agreement, but the summary should be short enough to use.

Backups

One restore test needed.

SQL Agent

Two recurring job failures.

Performance

Blocking during the reporting window.

Storage

Data file growth needs review.

Next step

Fix the job failure first, then review the backup and restore plan.

Not included by default

24/7 on-call response is not included by default.

Unlimited tickets and helpdesk-style queue handling are not included by default.

Guaranteed response SLAs need a separate agreement.

Full ownership of infrastructure, application code, or cloud platform work is not part of the default scope.

Direct production access is not needed before we agree the work.

A one-off emergency fix without follow-up review is usually better handled as ad hoc consulting.

Book monthly DBA support

Send the company context, SQL Server situation, urgency, and whether you want monthly support or a defined review. Logs, exports, credentials, and sensitive system data can wait.

Get in touch

Questions before starting

What is monthly SQL Server DBA support?

It is regular senior SQL Server help for companies that need recurring review, troubleshooting, planned change support, and a clear priority list without hiring a full-time DBA.

Is this 24/7 support?

No. Monthly DBA support is regular review and agreed SQL Server work. 24/7 on-call response, unlimited tickets, and guaranteed response SLAs need a separate agreement.

Can this include high availability?

Yes, if it is part of the agreement. Always On, failover notes, quorum, alerts, and runbooks can be reviewed when high availability is part of the SQL Server risk.

Can this include performance tuning?

Yes. Recurring waits, blocking, deadlocks, slow queries, failed jobs, query plans, indexes, statistics, tempdb, and workload timing can be reviewed as part of monthly support.

Do you need production access first?

No. Start with the company context, SQL Server situation, urgency, and what kind of help you are considering. Sensitive data and access can wait.

Can this start as a health audit?

Yes. A health audit can be a good first step when the current SQL Server state is unclear or the monthly scope needs a proper starting point.

How is monthly work prioritized?

Work is prioritized by production risk, urgency, business timing, and the details available. The output is a short priority list, not a large monthly report.

Can unused time roll over?

Only if that is part of the agreement. I do not imply rollover by default because monthly support scope depends on the servers, access, urgency, and expected availability.

Is this a replacement for a full-time DBA?

Sometimes, for companies that need regular senior SQL Server review but not daily ownership. If SQL Server needs daily internal ownership, a full-time DBA is usually the better answer.

Monthly support is the main ongoing service. These pages help when the work starts as a narrower review.