Free Resources
Tools for database professionals.
Actionable checklists and playbooks built from 30+ years of hands-on DBA work. Drop your name and email and the PDF is yours.
Available now
Pick a playbook.
AI & Data · Free Book
Agents of Tomorrow
Bill Ennis's free 6-chapter book on the evolution, capabilities, and ethics of AI agents — and why the data infrastructure underneath them is what makes any of it actually work.
Health Check · Free PDF
Database Health Checklist
30 actionable items across 6 categories — backups, index maintenance, storage, error monitoring, performance baselines, and archiving. Know exactly where your SQL Server stands before it tells you at 2am.
Migration · Free Playbook
SQL Server to Azure Migration Checklist
7-page phased playbook for migrating SQL Server 2016–2022 to Azure SQL Managed Instance. 5 phases, 40+ steps, T-SQL samples, and a 30-day sprint timeline. Updated for 2026.
Troubleshooting · Free Guide
SQL Server Blocking & Deadlock Guide
Practical guide for working DBAs: lock types, victim selection, trace flags 1222/1204, Extended Events, and the 5-step diagnostic method for resolving blocking fast.
Always On · Free Playbook
AG Health & Failover Playbook
End-to-end monitoring, troubleshooting & planned failover procedures for SQL Server Always On Availability Groups. Includes DMV diagnostic queries, pre/post-failover checklists, and a 30-day health program.
New Release · Free Guide
SQL Server 2025 New Features Reference Guide
What's new in the GA release — IQP, security defaults, T-SQL additions, Resource Governor for Standard Edition, and vector search. Includes compatibility level migration tables and a 10-point upgrade checklist.
Security · Free Guide
SQL Server Security Hardening Reference Guide
TDE, Always Encrypted, RLS, DDM, Audit & SQL Server 2025 Security Defaults — ready-to-run T-SQL, implementation checklists, and a layered defense architecture guide.
Next step
Not sure where your database stands?
The SSTS Database Assessment gives you a scored health report in 2 minutes — specific gaps, prioritized fixes, no sales pitch.