Guarding the data behind every application.
Behind almost every application sits a database. Our expertise spans SQL Server and Azure SQL security, resilience, performance, design and development, alongside Azure Cosmos DB for highly scalable applications.
Problems we solve
What can be achieved
Build fast, secure applications on a database foundation designed for growth, continuity and recovery.
What's available
The technologies involved
Database technology spans many areas. These are the ones we work with most.
- SQL Server - on-premises and on virtual machines
- Azure SQL - Database, Managed Instance and SQL on VM
- Azure Cosmos DB - scalable document and key-value access for apps
- High availability - failover cluster instances and Always On availability groups
- Performance tuning - queries, indexes and execution plans
- Business continuity and disaster recovery - recovery objectives and tested restores
- Security - SQL Authentication, Windows and Microsoft Entra ID where supported
- Database design and development - schemas, relationships and T-SQL
- Monitoring - Redgate SQL Monitor and proactive alerting
How we work
Databases work best in expert hands
A database can look healthy right up until it fails. Experienced DBAs recognise the warning signs, know which settings quietly hurt performance and can recover data under pressure. AI can suggest queries and fixes, but only a DBA can tell whether a suggestion will speed things up or lock up production. That is why every change we make is designed and reviewed by database specialists.
Outcomes
What good databases look like
Our experience
The DBA responsibility
Confidentiality
Keep data safe and access controlled. Promoting code safely from pre-prod to prod is core DBA territory.
Integrity
Protect against corruption, and ensure nothing changes without proper authorisation and audit.
Availability
Design for the failures your applications must withstand. SQL Server failover cluster instances and Always On availability groups can reduce disruption, but still need monitoring and tested recovery procedures.
Monitoring
Platforms need continuous monitoring for performance, backup and security issues. If you're not watching, you don't know.
Our experience
SQL Server security
Security starts with knowing who can connect, what they can do and how sensitive data is protected.
SQL Authentication
SQL Authentication uses logins managed by SQL Server. Where applications require it, use strong credentials, secure secret storage and rotation, and grant only the permissions each application needs.
Windows and Microsoft Entra ID
Windows Authentication integrates with Active Directory identities and groups. Microsoft Entra ID provides cloud identity authentication for Azure SQL and supported SQL Server configurations. Support depends on the platform, version and setup, so choose the approach that fits your estate.
Protection beyond the login
Apply least-privilege roles, restrict network access and encrypt connections. Encryption at rest, auditing, patching and access reviews provide further layers of protection. Authentication alone does not make a database secure.
Our experience
High availability, continuity and recovery
High availability keeps systems running through local failures. Business continuity and disaster recovery address the wider impact of disruption, including how much data you can afford to lose and how quickly operations must resume.
Failover cluster instances
A SQL Server failover cluster instance (FCI) provides instance-level protection, typically with shared storage. If a node fails, another node can take over the instance. Storage resilience, quorum and application reconnection all need careful design.
Always On availability groups
Always On availability groups replicate a group of databases between SQL Server instances. Synchronous replicas can support automatic failover in supported configurations; asynchronous replicas can support remote disaster recovery, with potential data loss. Edition and configuration determine the available features.
Business continuity
Agree recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) with the business. Map application dependencies, connection handling and responsibilities, then rehearse failover so database availability translates into usable business systems.
Disaster recovery
Maintain protected backups away from the primary environment and test full, differential and transaction log restores as appropriate. Document recovery procedures and validate the recovered application. Replicas can reproduce accidental changes, so high availability is not a substitute for backups.
Our experience
Performance tuning
The most common question a DBA hears: 'Is the database running slow?' - here's how we answer it.
Query plans
Execution plans and Query Store reveal how SQL Server runs your queries. Look for costly scans, inaccurate row estimates, blocking and regressions, then tune the query and verify the result against a measured baseline.
Indexes and statistics
Design clustered and nonclustered indexes around real filters, joins and sort patterns. Keep statistics useful and current. Too many indexes slow writes and consume storage, so proper indexing balances read performance with the cost of inserts, updates and maintenance.
Memory and capacity
Assess memory, CPU, storage latency, tempdb and concurrency together. Efficient queries and sensible configuration can reduce resource pressure before you buy more capacity. Measure the bottleneck rather than assuming a larger server is the answer.
Our experience
Database design, development and scalability
The data model and access patterns shape performance, reliability and cost long before the first production query runs.
Relational design and development
Design SQL Server schemas with appropriate data types, keys, relationships and constraints. Develop efficient T-SQL, stored procedures and transactions, and use version-controlled, tested schema changes. A sound model protects data integrity and makes applications easier to maintain.
Scaling SQL Server and Azure SQL
Start with efficient queries, indexing and capacity planning. Scale compute and storage to the workload, and consider read replicas, caching or application-level distribution where appropriate. Readable availability group replicas can offload supported read workloads, but do not distribute writes across replicas.
Azure Cosmos DB for scalable apps
Azure Cosmos DB is Microsoft's distributed NoSQL database, supporting flexible JSON documents and key-value access patterns. It suits workloads such as app profiles, product catalogues and event data that need horizontal scaling and multi-region access. Partition keys, request-unit throughput, indexing and consistency choices are central to performance and cost. It complements SQL Server rather than replacing relational design everywhere.
Insights
Related reading
Azure SQL vs SQL Server on VM: What Mid-Market IT Should Decide First
Azure SQL vs SQL Server on VM: how mid-market IT teams should actually decide, based on control needs, management overhead, cost shape, and migration effort.
Read article
Why Your SQL Server Feels Slow (And It's Usually Not the Hardware)
SQL Server performance issues are rarely a hardware problem. The real causes: indexing, query design, blocking, and configuration, and how to diagnose them.
Read article
What Does Managed Database Administration Actually Include?
What a managed database administration service really covers, where the grey areas are, and how to test what you are buying.
Read articleQuestions
Frequently asked
- Yes. Many clients run both, and we support hybrid estates across the two.
Start the conversation
Talk to a database specialist about your estate.
What you'll get
- 30–45 min consultation
- Clear priority map
- Recommended first engagement
- No obligation to proceed
Not ready to talk? Download the SQL Server health check guide or score your data health .