Michael P.

SQL Server slow, unstable, poorly documented, or becoming too risky to manage? That is exactly where I help. I'm a senior Microsoft SQL Server DBA and Developer with nearly 20 years of experience helping businesses troubleshoot, stabilize, optimize, migrate, and maintain SQL Server environments across versions 2000 through 2022. My work covers production DBA support, performance tuning, T-SQL development, high availability, disaster recovery, Azure SQL, AWS RDS, reporting, ETL, security, and database architecture. I help clients solve real SQL Server problems without unnecessary complexity. Whether your queries are timing out, backups are questionable, SQL Agent jobs are failing, reports are slow, an upgrade is overdue, or nobody is fully confident in the recovery plan — I can assess the environment and move it in the right direction. WHAT I DELIVER ◾ Performance tuning — slow queries, execution plans, indexing, waits, blocking, deadlocks, parameter sniffing, Query Store analysis ◾ Production DBA support — backups, restores, DBCC checks, SQL Agent jobs, maintenance plans, monitoring, alerts, server health reviews ◾ High availability and disaster recovery — Always On Availability Groups, clustering, log shipping, replication, backup strategy, restore testing, RTO/RPO planning ◾ SQL Server development — stored procedures, views, functions, triggers, T-SQL cleanup, reporting queries, data logic troubleshooting ◾ Migrations and upgrades — version upgrades, server moves, cloud migrations, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, AWS RDS ◾ Reporting and ETL — SSRS, SSIS, data imports/exports, scheduled jobs, broken or slow reporting processes ◾ Security and compliance — permissions, least privilege access, SQL logins/users, auditing, encryption, documentation, PCI, STIG compliance ◾ Documentation and knowledge transfer — runbooks, handoff guides, diagrams, and practical recommendations your team can use PERFORMANCE & TROUBLESHOOTING Many clients bring me in when SQL Server is already under pressure. Common problems I fix: ◾ Slow applications caused by inefficient SQL queries ◾ Reports that time out or block production users ◾ High CPU, memory pressure, tempdb issues, or storage bottlenecks ◾ Blocking, deadlocks, and long-running transactions ◾ Poor or over-indexed databases ◾ SQL Agent job failures ◾ Backup chain confusion or restore uncertainty ◾ Availability Group, replication, or failover problems ◾ Legacy databases with little or no documentation I focus on finding the actual cause, explaining it in plain terms, and recommending fixes that are safe for production. HOW I WORK 1. Discovery — Review the environment, the problem, business impact, risks, and current configuration 2. Assessment — Identify performance, reliability, security, backup, and architecture issues 3. Plan — Prioritize the safest and highest-value fixes first 4. Implement — Make careful changes with rollback awareness and documentation 5. Validate — Confirm the issue is resolved using data, not guesswork 6. Support — Provide clear next steps, ongoing monitoring, or handoff documentation WHAT CLIENTS SAY "Throughout our two-year contract, Michael demonstrated extraordinary proficiency as a Microsoft SQL Database Administrator, perfectly marrying technical expertise with excellent communication and a proactive mindset." -- Cloudacio “I have worked with Michael on several different projects ranging from web tool design and implementation to using his skills as a SQL DBA for contract work. When I need a skilled person for software development, web or DBA work - My first call always is to Michael.” -- Keith Swingle, VP Strategic Partnerships, NetVPro "Michael was a lifesaver in helping us figure out some complex Microsoft SQL Server issues. Watching him work inside a database is like watching a wizard." -- Bchex WHY CLIENTS WORK WITH ME Clients value that I'm practical, responsive, and able to explain technical database issues in plain English. I'm comfortable working with business owners, developers, IT teams, vendors, and executives. I don't throw scripts at the problem. I look at the full SQL Server environment: configuration, workload, queries, jobs, backups, HA/DR, application behavior, and operational risk. My goal: make your SQL Server environment faster, safer, more stable, and easier to support. COMMON ENGAGEMENTS ◾ SQL Server health check ◾ Emergency production troubleshooting ◾ Performance tuning review ◾ Query and index optimization ◾ Backup and restore validation ◾ SQL Server migration planning ◾ Azure SQL / Managed Instance support ◾ Always On Availability Group troubleshooting ◾ SSRS / SSIS / SQL Agent job support ◾ Long-term DBA support Whether you need a one-time SQL Server review, emergency troubleshooting, migration help, performance tuning, or ongoing DBA support — click **Invite to Job** and send me a quick summary of what you're trying to fix, improve, or migrate.