22-25 April 2026 
Automation for DBAs and database developers - One Day Training Day
Proposed session for SQLBits 2026TL; DR
Learn how to use PowerShell and Azure DevOps to automate re-occuring DBA- and database DevOps tasks such as backup tests, SQL instance deployment, dacpac deployments, unit testing databases.
Session Details
When I started as a developer and an accidental DBA, most of my administration routines and my deployments to production were done manually. Tests were more or less exclusively end-to-end-tests, performed by clicking in the UI.
Since then a lot of things happened. When DBAs used to take care a dozen SQL instances, they now have hundreds. Databases grew bigger and code is deployed to production much more often.
On this training day, I will share my experience with automation for DBAs and database developers. This includes:
- Automating SQL Server health checks using PowerShell, dbatools and dbachecks
- Database projects to enable CI/CD for SQL Server databases
- Azure pipelines for automation and scheduling
- Automated database tests using containers and database projects and tSQLt.
Since then a lot of things happened. When DBAs used to take care a dozen SQL instances, they now have hundreds. Databases grew bigger and code is deployed to production much more often.
On this training day, I will share my experience with automation for DBAs and database developers. This includes:
- Automating SQL Server health checks using PowerShell, dbatools and dbachecks
- Database projects to enable CI/CD for SQL Server databases
- Azure pipelines for automation and scheduling
- Automated database tests using containers and database projects and tSQLt.
3 things you'll get out of this session
Learn how to automate common DBA tasks using PowerShell, dbatools and dbachecks
Learn how to use Azure DevOps pipelines to schedule and trigger automations
Learn how to automate tSQLt tests using Visual Studio database projects and Azure DevOps pipelines