Back to Home
Our Service

SQL Server
Health Check

A comprehensive, expert-led assessment of your SQL Server environment — identifying what's slowing you down, what's putting you at risk, and exactly what to do about it.

MOST POPULAR
health-check-report.pdf SAMPLE

SQL Server Health Check Report

Prod-SQL-01 · Executive Summary
Performance Score42
Index Health58
Storage & tempdb71
Security Posture64
HA/DR Readiness88
80+
Checks
48h
Delivery
P0–P2
Prioritized
Action Items Identified 14 findings
100% Confidential · NDA-Ready
No production access required for assessment

Covers Every SQL Server Environment

SQL Server On-Premises (2000-2025) SQL Server on VM (Azure / AWS / On-prem) Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance AWS RDS for SQL Server

What's Included

80+ Diagnostic Checks.
Zero Cookie-Cutter Scripts.

80+ diagnostic checks run across every layer of your SQL Server environment — instance, database, query, index, storage, and security. Every finding is manually reviewed and interpreted by Michael, not just raw script output dropped in a PDF.

Instance & Memory Health

Server-level configuration, memory allocation, NUMA topology, and process health validated against best practices.

Version, edition & build level
NUMA node & core count analysis
Max server memory vs. physical RAM
Page Life Expectancy (PLE) by NUMA node
Memory clerks & buffer pool usage
Memory grants pending
Locked pages in memory (LPIM) status

Wait Stats & Blocking

Top wait types profiled, blocking chains identified, and concurrency problems surfaced before they become outages.

Top wait types (sys.dm_os_wait_stats)
Active blocking chains detected
Page latch & I/O latch contention
Lock wait analysis by object
CPU utilization history (ring buffer)
Average task counts & run queue
Connection counts by IP address

Query Performance Deep Dive

Every angle of slow query analysis — from worker time and logical reads to stored proc performance and ad hoc plan cache waste.

Top queries by avg elapsed time
Top queries by worker time (CPU)
Top queries by logical reads
Top queries by I/O (physical reads)
SP execution counts, avg time & reads
Ad hoc query plan cache bloat
UDF performance impact analysis

Index Strategy Analysis

Missing indexes ranked by impact across all databases. Redundant, unused, and volatile indexes flagged. Fragmentation quantified.

Missing indexes across all databases
Missing index warnings in query plans
Bad non-clustered index detection
Index fragmentation by table
Overall index usage — reads vs. writes
Volatile index identification
Buffer usage by index

Storage & I/O Analysis

Drive-level and file-level latency measured, TempDB configuration assessed, VLF counts checked, and space usage reviewed.

Drive-level latency (read & write)
I/O latency by database file
I/O warnings detection
I/O usage by database
TempDB data file count & sizing
VLF count & transaction log health
Version store space usage

Configuration & Security

Every critical sp_configure setting checked. Security posture reviewed including logins, permissions, SA status, and encryption.

MAXDOP & cost threshold for parallelism
Global trace flags review
SQL Server Agent jobs & alerts
Last backup by database
Suspect pages & error log review
Login, permission & SA audit
Database properties & recovery models

HA/DR & Always On

Always On AG cluster health, listener configuration, replica sync status, and backup coverage verified end to end.

Always On AG cluster status
AG replica sync health
Backup history by database
Recovery model & log reuse wait
Geo-replication link status (Azure)
Memory dump & crash history
Auto-tuning options (Azure SQL)

Statistics & Table Health

Stale statistics, table sizes, auto-shrink risks, and database-scoped configurations reviewed across all user databases.

Statistics update status by table
Table sizes & row counts
Table property flags (auto-shrink, etc.)
Database-scoped configurations
Query Store options & health
Columnstore index physical stats
CPU & I/O usage by database

Cloud Platform Checks

Azure SQL and AWS RDS have unique diagnostic surfaces. Platform-specific resource usage, geo-replication, and service tier checks included.

Azure SQL recent & avg resource usage
Azure SQL DB size & DTU/vCore usage
Azure MI server resource stats
Geo-replication link status
Automatic tuning options review
Resumable index rebuild status
High aggregate duration queries (QS)
80+
Diagnostic Checks
5
Platforms Covered
48h
Turnaround
20+
Years Experience
Book Your Health Check

The Deliverable

Your Prioritized
Action Report

You don't just get raw data — you get a clear, prioritized written report with specific findings, their business impact, and the exact steps to fix them. Ordered by severity and effort.

Every recommendation is something you or your team can act on immediately. No vague suggestions, no upsell required.

Report Includes:

Executive Summary
A plain-English overview of the top 5 issues and their business impact — shareable with leadership.
Prioritized Findings
All findings ranked Critical / High / Medium / Low with severity rationale and impact description.
Specific SQL Scripts & Fixes
Where applicable, the exact T-SQL or configuration changes needed — not just "improve your indexes."
Query Store & DMV Screenshots
Supporting evidence for every major finding so your team understands the diagnosis.
30-Minute Review Call
A follow-up call to walk through findings, answer questions, and clarify next steps.
48–72 Hour Turnaround
Fast, professional delivery. You'll have your report within 2–3 business days of data access.

The Process

How the Health Check Works

From booking to report delivery, the process is straightforward and designed to minimize your time investment while maximizing the value you get back.

Start Now — Book a Call
1
Book a Discovery Call (20 min)

Schedule via Calendly. We talk through your environment: SQL Server version, instance count, biggest pain points, and what you're hoping to learn. No prep needed.

2
Secure Read-Only Data Collection

You provide read-only access (or run my provided scripts locally and send output). No changes to your environment during the assessment phase.

3
Deep Analysis (48–72 Hours)

Michael personally reviews all collected data — DMV output, query plans, index usage, configuration settings, and security posture.

4
Report Delivery + Review Call

You receive the full written report followed by a 30-minute call to review findings, ask questions, and map out the highest-priority next steps.

You're in Control

The report is yours. Implement it yourself, hand it to your team, or engage Michael for implementation support — your choice, no pressure.

Is This Right for You?

Who Gets the Most from a Health Check

Performance is Suffering

Queries are slow, users are complaining, and you're not sure where the bottleneck is. You need a clear answer, fast.

No Dedicated DBA on Staff

Your developers or sysadmins manage SQL Server without deep DBA expertise. You want an expert set of eyes to find what they've missed.

Inherited a SQL Server Environment

You're the new DBA or consultant and need to quickly understand what you're working with, what's wrong, and where to start.

Planning a Migration or Upgrade

Before migrating to Azure SQL, AWS RDS, or upgrading SQL Server versions, you want to know the current state of health to avoid carrying problems forward.

Compliance or Audit Prep

Upcoming SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, DoD STIGs, or internal audit and you need to understand, implement, and document your SQL Server security posture.

Proactive Risk Management / Planning

Things are running okay, but you want peace of mind — a professional confirmation that your environment is healthy and protected. Hands-on experience walking through risk management engagements with TrustWave consultants.

Ready to Get Started?

Book Your SQL Server Health Check

Start with a free 20-minute discovery call. No commitment, no sales pressure — just an honest conversation about your SQL Server environment.

Usually responds within 24 hours  ·  St. Cloud, MN  ·  Remote Worldwide