Database monitoring technology is in a constant state of motion. This can present some challenges for DBAs who need to stay on top of the latest tools and trends to keep their instances running smoothly and efficiently.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of very smart people who are happy to share their knowledge with others. Here is a list of five excellent books covering SQL Server in general, database monitoring best practices, and database security.
Great Post, Erik by Erik Darling
Erik Darling is a SQL Server consultant, educator, and passionate blogger. His book, Great Post, Erik, is a compilation of more than 60 of his blog posts covering SQL Server topics from windowing functions to query plans to serialization.
Erik’s blogs are pretty technical, but his writing style is conversational and engaging, suitable for SQL Server DBAs at every level. Erik also includes full-color, easy-to-read code samples and execution plans in his book, which makes the complex subject matter that much more digestible.
Great Post, Erik is a fun but not watered-down look at SQL Server functions written by someone who not only knows a lot about SQL Server, but also obviously enjoys sharing that knowledge.
Be the SQL Server DBA Hero Your Organization Needs by Spotlight Cloud
This e-book was published by Spotlight Cloud to provide a concise overview of common topics SQL Server DBAs must know to do their jobs effectively. This resource is a great guide for new and accidental DBAs who are trying to find their footing in an unfamiliar, sometimes overwhelming environment.
Be the SQL Server DBA Hero Your Organization Needs stays true to its title by focusing on four key areas that have the largest impact on the organization’s success: backup and recovery, maintenance, security, and performance.
The book closes with a reminder that DBAs need to prioritize continuous learning and professional development to keep up with rapid changes in technology.
Securing SQL Server: Protecting Your Database from Attackers by Denny Cherry
Given that SQL Server is one of the most popular database platforms in the world, it’s no surprise that it is a frequent target of malicious attacks. Despite the obvious need for diligent security, many organizations aren’t following best practices to keep their SQL Servers safe.
In Securing SQL Server: Protecting Your Database from Attackers, Denny Cherry takes an in-depth look at how to protect SQL Server, with an emphasis on SQL Server 2014. Some of the key topics he covers are:
- How to identify your security objectives
- How to secure your network
- Encryption and SQL password protection
- How to secure the instance
- How to prevent and recover from SQL injection attacks
The author is a passionate advocate for better SQL Server security, and it shows in his writing. Cherry’s up-front, non-sugar-coated look at the dangers of not taking appropriate security measures is a must-read for all DBAs.
The DBA’s High Availability and Disaster Recovery Survival Guide by Quest
Downtime is one of a DBA’s least favorite words, and for good reason. If your database is down, you’re losing money through lost revenue or lost productivity. This e-book provides DBAs with advice on how to ensure high availability and create an effective disaster recovery strategy even when they are spread thin.
With so many other demands on a DBA’s time, Quest put together this quick read to help busy DBAs kickstart risk assessment, monitor HA and disaster recovery metrics, and create a business continuity strategy.
Beginning SQL 2012 Joes 2 Pros Volume 1: The SQL Queries 2012 Hands-On Tutorial for Beginners by Rick Morelan and Pinal Dave
This may not be the newest book, but it is well worth the read for brand-new DBAs. Rick Morelan and Pinal Dave have created a primer for absolute SQL Server beginners that helps them go from new kid “Joe” to pro SQL Server administrator with ease.
As someone who went from Alaskan fisherman to SQL Server expert, Rick Morelan knows firsthand the pain points shared by new SQL Server DBAs. So, to ease that pain, he and Pinal Dave wrote this book in plain language, assuming the reader knows nothing about databases or SQL Server.
To ensure maximum knowledge comprehension, the authors also included “Points to Ponder” callouts and added a glossary at the end of each chapter to facilitate learning the SQL Server vocabulary.
Despite not focusing on the latest SQL Server version, this book is a valuable resource for inexperienced DBAs or students who are considering a career in database administration.
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