Automating SQL Server Management with GitHub Actions and PowerShell

Proposed session for SQLBits 2026

TL; DR

This talk demonstrates how GitHub Actions can be leveraged with PowerShell and SQL Server to streamline database operations and implement DevOps practices for your database environment.

Session Details

This talk demonstrates how GitHub Actions can be leveraged with PowerShell and SQL Server to streamline database operations and implement DevOps practices for your database environment.

What you'll learn:
• GitHub Actions – This powerful CI/CD platform enables automation triggered by code commits, issue creation and more.
• PowerShell and dbatools – We'll then add PowerShell and dbatools into the mix to extend the automation to managing SQL Server automation.
• Demos and Ideas – I'll show multiple demos, including using AI to summarise GitHub Issues, creating SQL Server databases and deploying database change with sqlpackage.

This session aims to give you a practical understanding of how to combine these technologies to reduce manual effort, minimize human error, and build more reliable and repeatable processes for your SQL Server environments.

3 things you'll get out of this session

- What GitHub Actions are - How GitHub Actions can be used with PowerShell to automate processes - Attendees will leave with ideas for what they can automate

Jess Pomfret's other proposed sessions for 2026

Data API Builder – Create an API for Your Database in Seconds - 2026

dbatools - Wheel of Fortune - 2026

Jess Pomfret's previous sessions

Managing replication with dbatools

One of the most highly requested dbatools features was for commands to manage replication and now they're here. In this session, we'll run through the available commands and how they can be used to build up and tear down replication.

Anyone can be an alphabet soup ally

Folks that belong to the queer community are often referred to as LGBTQ+, Jess and Linda represent a small portion of the letters within this alphabet soup and they will guide you through some common situations where you can be a good ally. There is no one right answer, but there are ways for you to prepare for certain situations so you know what your best move might be to provide support and allyship. This session will provide tips for people who are new to being an ally and for existing allies who want to add skills to their toolbelt.

I'm here, I'm queer ( Why Representation Matters)

In this 20 minute session we’ll talk about why it matters that ‘I’m here and I’m Queer’. Representation, both at conferences and in the media, is so important not just for us now, but also for the future generations. If you want to know why all this DEI stuff matters, why we need to keep striving to diversify the attendees and speakers at our conferences and events, then this session is for you.

SQL Server 2022 migrations with dbatools

Using dbatools we'll migrate our databases to a shiny new SQL Server 2022 instance.

Keynote by The Community

Ben and Rob have found some wonderful folk to actually do the important parts of the community keynote. on the theme of How to be a nonpassive member of the data community

Introduction to PowerShell

Everything you need to get started with PowerShell.

Migrate databases easily with dbatools

Quickly and easily migrate databases and associated logins using dbatools.

Life Hacks: dbatools edition

dbatools is an open source PowerShell module. This session will walk through several life hacks that you can take back to work and quickly implement to make your life easier and impress your friends.

Install & Configure SQL Server with PowerShell DSC

Using PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) we'll install and configure a SQL Server instance in under 5 mins.