Microsoft EA and MPSA Online Services are moving to standardised pricing. This change could impact costs and make CSP a better option for flexibility and value.
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Table of Contents
VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS
FROM THE DESK OF THE MD
Why 24/7 DB Admin Outsourcing Outperforms In-House DBAs
Partner with Ascent Technology for 24/7 Managed DBA Services backed by certified expertise, guaranteed response times, and ISO 27001 governance. Key Takeaways Database management is now a 24/7 responsibility, with performance, security, and compliance requiring...
From Complexity to Clarity – Why Microsoft Fabric Matters Now
Discover why Microsoft Fabric is central to Microsoft’s Data & AI strategy, and how Ascent Technology helps organisations unify data, simplify operations, and achieve AI-driven success. Key Takeways Microsoft Fabric unifies data on a single platform, eliminating silos...
Building the Microsoft Cloud Foundation for AI Success
Discover how Ascent Technology’s Modernise–Optimise–Protect framework, powered by Microsoft Fabric, OneLake, and Copilot, builds secure, AI-ready platforms that unlock business value. Key Takeways AI success starts with a modern, unified foundation – Microsoft Fabric...
CAMPAIGNS
Azure by Credit Card vs CSP: Why Finance & IT Prefer CSP
Still paying Microsoft for Azure by credit card? Discover why finance and IT leaders prefer the CSP model for predictable billing, built-in partner support, cost optimisation, and long-term value. Key Takeways Credit card billing creates risk - Failed or expired...
Prepare for SQL Server 2014 End of Support
On July 9, 2024, support for SQL Server 2014 ended. That means the end of regular security updates. Don't let your infrastructure and applications go unprotected. We're here to help you migrate to current versions for greater security, performance and innovation....
Prepare for SQL Server 2012 End of Support
On July 12, 2022, support for SQL Server 2012 ended. That means the end of regular security updates. Don't let your infrastructure and applications go unprotected. We're here to help you migrate to current versions for greater security, performance and innovation....
NEWSFLASHES
Microsoft Tiered EA/MPSA Pricing Ends – Explore the CSP Advantage
Standardised pricing will replace Microsoft’s long-standing tiered discount model - prompting many organisations to review the CSP programme for its cost savings, licensing flexibility, and simplified management. Microsoft Tiered EA/MPSA Pricing Ends Microsoft will...
Ascent Technology’s clients benefit from Data Platform Modernisation
Facing platform ‘end of life’ issues together with increasing pressures to digitise processes, increase profitability and innovate on product and service, organisations are finding Data Platform Modernisation projects can deliver significant value by enabling IT cost...
CLIENT CASE STUDIES
DB Administration, Security and Compliance for First Distribution
First Distribution’s Database Administration, Security and Compliance needs lead it to trusted advisor, Ascent Technology. For any large organisation, Database Administration (DBA) is a vital part of maintaining their Data Platform Operations effectively. As it has...
Ascent Technology helps Bidfood SA migrate to Microsoft Azure
When Bidfood SA chose to modernise and migrate its data platform to Microsoft Azure, it turned to Ascent Technology for help. In a world that is digitally transforming, it is more vital than ever to an organisation’s success to utilise the latest platforms to drive...
Ascent Technology helps migrate Phumelela Gaming to Azure
A Windows Server and SQL Server consolidation, optimisation and migration to Microsoft Azure enables the company to reduce costs, modernise its data platform and boost its innovation capabilities. As an operator running two distinct betting businesses, Phumelela...
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Microsoft Data and Analytics Partner of the Year Finalist
Ascent Technology continues its strong showing in the Microsoft Partner of the Year awards, as a finalist in the Data and Analytics Partner of the Year award. Finalist Data and Analytics Partner of the Year "It is always gratifying to be recognised by Microsoft as one...
Database System Health Check Service from Ascent Technology
Identify database performance issues, risks, and optimisation opportunities before they impact your business. Ascent Technology’s Database Health Check provides actionable insights and long-term database reliability.
Diagnose Before It Disrupts
Databases sit at the heart of every modern business system. When performance starts to decline – through capacity strain, configuration drift, or missed maintenance – the effect is felt across applications, analytics, and customer experience. Even small inefficiencies can quickly escalate into costly downtime, instability, or compliance risk.
Ascent Technology’s Database System Health Check Service (DB Health) delivers a structured assessment that identifies risks, configuration gaps, and performance bottlenecks across your database environment – on-premises, in the cloud, or within hybrid systems.
Our consultants review architecture, configuration, performance, maintenance, and security posture against recognised best practices. This ensures every database component operates as intended.
The outcome is a clear, data-driven view of your database environment’s health. You’ll receive actionable recommendations that modernise, optimise, and protect your systems for sustained performance and long-term reliability.
More than a technical audit, DB Health provides a practical roadmap for stability, efficiency, and confidence in the databases that power your organisation.
DB Health forms the foundation for ensuring your environment is ready for ongoing support, optimisation, and compliance – as part of Ascent Technology’s suite of managed database services.
What’s Included in the Health Check
Every database environment presents its own mix of configuration choices, dependencies, and performance behaviours.
DB Health provides a structured evaluation that goes deeper than routine checks, delivering a full review of the database systems, configurations, and maintenance practices that keep your databases stable and reliable.
Our consultants assess several key areas that define the overall health and long-term resilience of your database environment:
- Performance and Configuration Analysis – We examine how your databases perform under real workloads – analysing CPU and memory utilisation, storage throughput, disk alignment, I/O performance, indexing strategy, query efficiency, and connection behaviour – to pinpoint bottlenecks and tuning opportunities.
- Maintenance and Reliability Review – We review backup routines, maintenance plans, autogrowth settings, and alerting mechanisms to verify that critical processes run correctly. Integrity checks, index maintenance, and statistics updates are evaluated to ensure recoverability and consistent performance.
- Security and Compliance Review – We validate user permissions, service accounts, and role assignments to identify security gaps or policy violations. Where relevant, we reference Ascent’s DB Shield service for enhanced auditing, compliance, and vulnerability management guidance.
- Version and Lifecycle Audit – We assess database versions, patch levels, and vendor lifecycle status to surface potential compatibility or end-of-support risks. Recommendations cover upgrade paths, patching schedules, and modernisation planning.
- High Availability and Resilience Review (Optional) – Where high availability or disaster recovery is required, we assess your database topology (clustering and replication), quorum and failover design, replication mode (synchronous vs asynchronous), backup/restore and point-in-time recovery, monitoring and failover automation, and whether the design meets your stated RPO/RTO targets.
From Assessment to Action
DB Health follows a proven, methodical process that delivers both technical clarity and business value.
Each engagement is led by Ascent’s senior database consultants, ensuring that every recommendation is backed by deep experience and measurable impact.
- System Review and Data Collection – We gather key configuration data, performance metrics, and workload statistics across your database environment. This includes reviewing hardware, operating system, storage performance, and database parameters to establish a reliable performance baseline without affecting production systems.
- In-Depth Analysis and Best-Practice Benchmarking – The collected data is compared against industry-recognised and vendor best practices to identify risks, inefficiencies, and configuration deviations that could impact performance, resilience, or compliance.
- Comprehensive Health Report – We compile a structured, easy-to-interpret report that summarises current database health, prioritises remediation steps, and links each recommendation to measurable technical and business outcomes
- Review Session and Next Steps – Our consultants meet with your team to review findings, answer technical questions, and align on a clear, actionable plan. This ensures recommendations are fully understood and implemented effectively within your database environment.
Ready to uncover what’s holding back your databases? Start with a DB Health assessment and gain the insight to move forward confidently.
Typical Issues Detected
The table below highlights some of the most common issues we detect during our Database Health Check engagements, along with their potential business impact and recommended remediation actions.
| Assessment Area | Potential Business Impact | Recommended Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Storage and Configuration Practices | Unreliable performance, increased downtime risk, and data recovery challenges under load or during failure events. | Ensure database layout and configuration align with best-practice resilience, performance, and recovery objectives. |
| Performance and Optimisation Gaps | Slow transactions, inconsistent response times, and reduced application efficiency. | Identify and resolve query, index, and workload imbalances to improve throughput and user experience. |
| Maintenance and Lifecycle Management | Unaddressed updates, outdated components, or unsupported versions exposing systems to avoidable risk. | Implement proactive maintenance schedules and platform upgrades aligned with vendor and business requirements. |
| Security and Access Controls | Potential for data breaches, unauthorised access, or compliance violations. | Apply least-privilege principles, review permission structures, and integrate ongoing monitoring with Ascent’s DB Shield framework. |
| Backup and Recovery Readiness | Extended outages and data loss in the event of failure or corruption. | Assess recovery procedures and validation processes to confirm alignment with recovery time and recovery point objectives (RTO/RPO). |
| Scalability and Resource Planning | Capacity bottlenecks, inefficient utilisation of compute and storage, and limited growth flexibility. | Review workload distribution and capacity planning to ensure scalability and cost-efficiency across on-premises and cloud environments. |
Once these risks are identified, we don’t stop there – we give you the tools and clarity to take action.
What You Receive
Each DB Health engagement concludes with a defined set of deliverables that give your team clarity, confidence, and a clear path to improvement.
- Comprehensive Health Report – A detailed report outlining the current state of your database environment, including performance metrics, configuration findings, and maintenance observations. Each issue is categorised by severity and business impact, with prioritised remediation steps and target timelines.
- Executive Summary and Roadmap – A concise summary highlighting the most critical findings, performance risks, and strategic improvement opportunities. Designed for both technical and business stakeholders, it connects database performance with operational value – helping you plan upgrades, allocate resources, and budget effectively.
- Prioritised Remediation Plan – A structured plan detailing how to address identified issues. The plan distinguishes between immediate quick wins and long-term architectural improvements, providing a practical roadmap for sustained optimisation and reduced risk.
- Performance Benchmark Snapshot – An optional benchmarking component compares pre- and post-optimisation metrics, helping you measure results, demonstrate value, and track ongoing performance improvements over time.
- Ongoing Support Alignment – If required, Ascent can extend DB Health findings into an ongoing support partnership through our Database Administration and Support Service, ensuring continuous monitoring, maintenance, and proactive performance optimisation.
Ready to uncover what’s holding back your databases?
Contact Us About DB Health.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| What is included in a Database Health Check? |
| The DB Health assessment reviews performance, configuration, maintenance, security, and lifecycle status across your database environment. It identifies bottlenecks, risks, and optimisation opportunities—culminating in a detailed report with prioritised, actionable recommendations. |
| Which database platforms do you support? |
| Ascent Technology supports all leading relational database platforms, including SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and others, as well as hybrid and cloud-based deployments such as Azure. Each assessment is tailored to the technologies, workloads, and business priorities unique to your environment. |
| How long does a typical DB Health engagement take? |
| Most DB Health assessments are completed within a single day, with analysis and reporting finalised shortly after. Duration may vary depending on environment size, platform diversity, and data collection requirements. Complex or multi-platform environments may require additional analysis for accuracy. |
| Will the Health Check cause downtime or impact performance? |
| No. DB Health is non-intrusive and has minimal impact on production systems. Where diagnostic queries or monitoring tools are needed, they are run outside of peak hours or in read-only mode to avoid disruption. |
| What happens after the Health Check? |
| After reviewing the findings, you decide how to proceed. Many clients choose Ascent Technology to assist with remediation, optimisation, or ongoing management, while others implement recommendations internally using the DB Health report as a roadmap. Either approach provides a clear path toward improved database stability and performance. |
| How often should a Health Check be performed? |
| A Database Health Check is recommended annually – or after significant system, infrastructure, or application changes. Regular assessments help maintain performance, confirm compliance, and reduce the risk of unplanned outages or long-term degradation. |
| How does a Database Health Check improve ROI or reduce costs? |
| A proactive Health Check prevents downtime, reduces performance inefficiencies, and extends the life of existing infrastructure. By identifying and resolving bottlenecks early, organisations lower operational costs, improve application responsiveness, and maximise return on their database investment. |
How DB Health Complements Other Ascent Services
DB Health forms part of Ascent Technology’s integrated database and data-platform service suite – working seamlessly alongside our Database Administration and Support Service (DB Admin) and Database Security and Compliance Service (DB Shield) to deliver complete data assurance.
With DB Admin: DB Health provides the diagnostic insights that inform ongoing maintenance, tuning, and performance improvement under Ascent’s Managed DBA Service.
With DB Shield: DB Health findings can be correlated with DB Shield’s continuous monitoring and compliance reporting – linking performance optimisation to verified data protection.
Together: These services deliver proactive insight, operational reliability, and regulatory confidence – ensuring your databases are modernised, optimised, and protected for long-term success.
Positioned within Ascent’s Modernise – Optimise – Protect framework, DB Health represents the Modernise pillar, reinforced by DB Admin under Optimise and DB Shield under Protect for comprehensive data-platform assurance.
Why Choose Ascent Technology
For over two decades, Ascent Technology has helped organisations modernise, optimise, and protect their database systems across industries and regions.
DB Health is built on this depth of experience – combining technical precision with practical insight into business priorities.
- Deep Multi-Platform Database Expertise – Our consultants bring extensive knowledge across the database ecosystem, including Microsoft Azure SQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, MaiaDB, and PostgreSQL, EntrepriseDB and Amazon RDS, as well as cloud-hosted and hybrid environments such as Azure. This expertise ensures recommendations that are relevant, accurate, and aligned to each client’s operational requirements.
- Proven Best-Practice Methodology – DB Health applies a consistent, best-practice framework that balances performance, security, and resilience. Every engagement follows repeatable processes, quality controls, and peer-reviewed standards refined through hundreds of enterprise-scale assessments.
- Actionable Results, Not Just Reports – Our focus is on outcomes. Each recommendation is prioritised, practical, and measurable – delivering real performance gains and reduced operational risk.
- Integrated Service Continuity – Ascent’s wider portfolio – including Database Administration and Support Service, DB Shield, and Database Consulting Services – provides a seamless transition from assessment to implementation and proactive optimisation
- Trusted Partner Since 2003 – Recognised by organisations across North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Ascent Technology is a trusted partner for database reliability and transformation – guided by our commitment to deliver Cheaper and Better results without compromise.
Start with a Database Health Check
Ready to uncover hidden risks and optimise performance?
Contact Us today to schedule your Database System Health Check and ensure your databases run securely, efficiently, and reliably.