What's missing from your SQL Server audit?
The Simple Talk Newsletter
October 22, 2026
Welcome to the newsletter. As you likely know, 'configured' and 'complete' are not the same thing when it comes to a SQL Server audit - and Fabiano Amorim’s new guide is a useful reminder of that.
Also this week: the right way to set up PostgreSQL, make MySQL schema changes without downtime, a nightmare weekend working with an AI coding agent, inconsistency in engineering teams, and more.
Enjoy reading, watching, and listening.
Until next time!
The Simple Talk team
P.S. It's not too late to join the data community at this year's PASS Summit in Seattle (November 9-11). Register now.
Is your SQL Server audit really catching everything?
Your SQL Server can be patched, firewalled, and well configured, yet still have gaps. Fabiano Amorim demonstrates how global temp objects, DMV access, and narrowly tested audits can quietly become attack paths - and provides queries to check your exposure and the fixes to close each gap.
How to set up PostgreSQL correctly (from the start)
Grant Fritchey shows you how to create a dedicated role, set up a database with clean ownership, organize it with schemas, and build your first tables in PostgreSQL. Includes exact psql commands and real output.
Need to change your MySQL schema without downtime?
Lukas Vileikis breaks down what causes downtime in a simple MySQL schema change, overviews the potential solutions - built-in online DDL, Percona Toolkit, and gh-ost - and reveals how to decide which is best for your setup.
Your AI agent is only as good as the direction you give it
Always chasing the wrong fix. That's what Grant Fritchey experienced when using an AI coding agent to help him get his radio's Windows CPS running on Linux. Here's what happened - and 8 things he learned to avoid future trouble.
The hidden cost of inconsistency in engineering teams
Inconsistent tooling, setups, and habits cost engineering teams time and money. Steve Jones, Grant Fritchey, Kellyn Gorman and Pat Wright discuss how to spot these issues, fix them - and where AI fits in.
Why your API shouldn't 'speak' database
Learn how a GraphQL schema can act as a semantic layer that speaks your business’s language instead of mirroring your database. Also: a 'Business Language Test' for checking your own schema. Nick Harrison is your guide.
The real solution to PostgreSQL's connection limit
When an app reaches PostgreSQL's connection limit, bumping up max_connections is a fast fix but not always the best thing to do. Achyut Tripathi explains how to recreate the error locally, find the real culprit, and fix it - permanently - with pooling and monitoring.
You may also be interested in...
How to generate SQL Server demo code with AI
Why AI can't take away the need for a junior DBA
How do you actually assess the cost of a database monitoring tool?
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