Erin & Monica’s Favorite SQL Stuff

Stabilizing Performance with Query Store

This session will demonstrate how to use plan forcing (manual and automatic) and Query Store Hints to stabilize query performance without changing code.

What You've Been Missing in SSMS

Get tips and tricks and a sneak peak at the future for SSMS.

Parameter Sensitive Plan Optimization in SQL 2022 ... As Cool as it Sounds?

We'll provide a balance perspective of the benefits and limitations of the new Parameter Sensitive Plan Optimization feature in SQL 2022 to help you decide if it's right for your environment.

Query Store Best Practices

Want to use Query Store and not sure how to make sure everything is "correct"? Tried Query Store and had issues? In this session we'll cover what you MUST know to successfully use Query Store in a production environment.

The SQL Leadership Panel

Bring all your questions about the strategy and future of Microsoft SQL to the leadership team of Microsoft in a panel hosted by Bob Ward, Principal Architect at Microsoft

From Your Couch to the Cloud: When and Why to Choose the Azure Portal

In this session you'll learn how to get the most out of the Azure Portal  and how to maximize its unique capabilities for Azure SQL administration.

Azure Data Studio and the Surprises Inside

If you're not sure whether you're leverating Azure Data Studio to it's full capability, then attend to this session to discover the bits you might be missing.

Erin & Monica’s Favorite SQL Stuff

Two consultants, two different companies, two data professionals passionate about performance tuning. Do we like the same things? Do we have the same approach to problems? Topics will include: Trace Flags, DMVs, DBCC commands, Community Scripts and Intelligent Query Processing Features. We will talk about the features and solutions we agree on, and discuss where we disagree.

Options for Proactively Managing Statistics in SQL Server

I often recommend that folks proactively manage statistics, but I always seem to run out of time to talk about HOW to do that...this session will cover exactly that.

Why You Need Query Store

I can spend an entire day talking about Query Store and all it can do, but in 20 minutes I can convince you that it should be a feature you start using today.

Stop Tuning Queries and Start Tuning Your Workload

This session will discuss how to look at your workload holistically using a variety of methods, so that you can target and address patterns in your code and query plans, rather than troubleshooting one query at a time.

Why You Need Query Store

If you have heard about Query Store but don't know what it can offer, or why you really need it, this session will answer those questions and demonstrate the value of this feature that continues to evolve.

Plan Stability with Automatic Tuning in SQL Server and Azure

Automatic Plan Correction is a feature you can use whether you're a pro at performance tuning or just starting with SQL Server. Come to this session to learn how to spend less time fighting fires with this new feature.

Extending your use of Extended Events

If you've been using Extended Events the same way you used to use Trace, you might be wondering if there's more to it. There is! In this session we will explore what else you can do with XE besides capture long-running queries.

Kicking & Screaming: Replacing Profiler with Extended Events

Extended Events was released with SQL Server 2008, and almost 10 years later, many data professionals are still clinging to Profiler. It's time to move forward, and in this session I'll show you how.

Mastering TempDB

Have you experienced performance problems caused by contention in TempDB? Have you ever wondered why your TempDB is suddenly 3 TB? In this session, you will learn about all the various components of SQL Server that use TempDB. Whether it be AlwaysOn Availability Groups, Read Committed Snapshot version stores, spills, or simply temporary tables, learn about how to identify what SQL Server or your applications are doing in TempDB. Once you understand all the ways SQL Server uses this critical resource, and how to proper configure it, you'll be better prepared for your workloads whether it be an Azure VM, a physical server, or a container.

Your Performance Tuning Check List

Everyone needs a list of what to double check in your environment to ensure your servers and databases are optimized in order to make SQL Server run faster, better and more efficiently. In this session you will learn about what you need to review and implement to get a performance and configuration improvements. You will learn about best practice configuration, SQL Server surface area, memory optimizations, isolation levels, Tempdb and transaction log configuration.

Performance Tuning Azure SQL Database

Have you moved to a cloud database like Azure SQL Database and are having performance issues? While the Azure SQL services running in Azure are similar to SQL Server, they are key differences in performance tuning methodologies. In this session, you will learn about monitoring options, changes in cloud DMVs, and additional cloud tuning tools like Azure SQL Analytics and Performance Insights that can allow you quickly get to performance data across a number of instances. You will learn about what you need to keep in mind when choosing between scaling-out to readable secondaries and scaling-up to higher tier solutions. Discuss with Microsoft MVP Monica Rathbun the challenges and benefits of tuning, what to keep in mind, and what to expect in the cloud.

Tales from the Field - How to Avoid Burnout

In the fast paced "always plugged in world" we all live in today, getting burned out is something that you will most likely experience. That feeling of emotional and physical exhaustion that leaves you overwhelmed, trapped, defeated and stagnant can be unbearable. Taking the time to learn how to avoid burnout can be game-changer for your mental health, motivation, and productivity. In this 20 minute session, we will discuss ways to help prevent that burn out.

Your Performance Tuning Check List

Everyone needs a list of what to double check in your environment to ensure your servers and databases are optimized in order to make SQL Server run faster, better and more efficiently. In this session you will learn about what you need to review and implement to get a performance and configuration improvements.

Erin & Monica’s Favorite SQL Stuff

Two consultants, two different companies, two data professionals passionate about performance tuning. Do we like the same things? Do we have the same approach to problems? Topics will include: Trace Flags, DMVs, DBCC commands, Community Scripts and Intelligent Query Processing Features. We will talk about the features and solutions we agree on, and discuss where we disagree.

Always Encrypted for Beginners

Let's learn about what Always Encrypted is, how it works, and the implications for your environment. By the end you will know how to now easily encrypt columns of data and just as importantly how to unencrypt.

Getting Started with Learning Azure

Join three Microsoft Data Platform MVPs to discuss the best approach with building your Azure skills. You will learn the best approaches to gaining the skills you need to function in a cloud world.