Vlad Drumea
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vladdba.com
Vlad Drumea
@vladdba.com
140 followers 350 following 130 posts
Full time MS SQL Server DBA. Curious about InfoSec stuff.
Thoughts = my own.
https://vladdba.com
Maker of
https://github.com/VladDBA/PSBlitz
Posts Replies Media Videos
vladdba.com
Blog post from the past:
In which I cover ways of speeding up SELECT COUNT in SQL Server as well as some myths about best practices when it comes to SELECT COUNT.
vladdba.com/2023/08/21/s...
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba
Speeding up SELECT COUNT in SQL Server
In this post I'll cover ways of speeding up SELECT COUNT as well as some myths about best practices when it comes to SELECT COUNT.
vladdba.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:23 PM
vladdba.com
New blog post:
In which I cover some unpleasant side-effects of using heaps in SQL Server for anything else than staging tables.
vladdba.com/2025/12/30/t...
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba #sql
The hidden costs of heaps in SQL Server
In this post I cover some unpleasant side-effects of using heaps in SQL Server for anything else than staging tables.
vladdba.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
vladdba.com
New blog post:
My most popular blog posts in 2025 by views, likes, and comments.
vladdba.com/2025/12/27/m...
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba #sql
Most popular blog posts in 2025
It's time for my annual roundup of the most popular blog posts in 2025 by views, likes, and comments.
vladdba.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:54 PM
vladdba.com
Blog post from the past:
In which I demo how to import and query HTML table data in SQL Server using only T-SQL.
vladdba.com/2023/11/03/i...
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba
Import and query HTML table data in SQL Server
In this post I cover a way to import and query HTML table data in SQL Server using only T-SQL and no external tools.
vladdba.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:18 PM
vladdba.com
New blog post:
In which I cover a sometimes overlooked gotcha when using page compression on heaps.
vladdba.com/2025/12/09/p...
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba #sql
Page compression on heaps implies some extra work
I recently ran into SQL Server's page compression being applied to a heap, and I figured I'd cover why that won't work how some folks expect.
vladdba.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Reposted by Vlad Drumea
markorummelsburg.bsky.social
Sunspot Region 4299 ☀️ Two solar flares 1) M1.1 triggered 2) M8.1 - the core filament erupted - both produced a coronal mass ejection 1) slower, to NE 2) faster, earth-directed - possible arrival 8/9 December
December 7, 2025 at 12:07 AM
vladdba.com
The latest PSBlitz:
- Updated with the non-sp versions of sp_Blitz* from Brent Ozar's Nov. release of the First Responder Kit
- Adds buttons to copy query text from the HTML report
- Overview of findings/issues in HTML report's main page
#sqlserver #sqldba #powershell #mssqlserver #mssql #powershell
GitHub - VladDBA/PSBlitz: a PowerShell-based tool that outputs SQL Server health and performance diagnostics data to either Excel or HTML, and saves execution plans and deadlock graphs as .sqlplan and...
a PowerShell-based tool that outputs SQL Server health and performance diagnostics data to either Excel or HTML, and saves execution plans and deadlock graphs as .sqlplan and .xdl files. - VladDBA/...
github.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:07 PM
vladdba.com
Updated blog post:
Added information about limitations and a workaround for transferring SSMS 21 connection history data to SSMS 22 when using the classic Connection Dialog.
vladdba.com/2025/11/17/i...
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba #sql #ssms #PowerShell
Import saved connections from SSMS 21 to SSMS 22
This blog post is a guide for migrating saved connection details from SQL Server Management Studio 21 to SSMS 22
vladdba.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:33 PM
vladdba.com
New blog post:
In which I demo a PowerShell script I wrote to extract and decrypt SSMS 21 and 22 saved connection information.
vladdba.com/2025/11/22/p...
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba #sql #ssms #PowerShell
PowerShell script to extract SSMS 21 and 22 saved connection data
In this post I demo a PowerShell script I wrote to extract and decrypt SSMS 21 and 22 saved connection information.
vladdba.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Vlad Drumea
brento.bsky.social
SQL Server 2025 Is Out, and Standard Goes Up to 256GB RAM, 32 Cores!

Today marks the official birthday of Microsoft SQL Server 2025. Here's where to download the evaluation version. Here are the top things you wanna consider as you talk to your managers, developers, and end users. The feature…
SQL Server 2025 Is Out, and Standard Goes Up to 256GB RAM, 32 Cores!
Today marks the official birthday of Microsoft SQL Server 2025. Here's where to download the evaluation version. Here are the top things you wanna consider as you talk to your managers, developers, and end users. The feature differences between 2025 Enterprise and Standard have been revealed, and the news for Standard Edition folks is spectacular: it now supports up to 32 CPU cores and 256GB RAM!
www.brentozar.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
vladdba.com
New blog post:
In which I show you how to easily migrate saved connection details from SQL Server Management Studio 21 to SSMS 22.
vladdba.com/2025/11/17/i...
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba #sql #ssms #PowerShell
Import saved connections from SSMS 21 to SSMS 22
This blog post is a guide for migrating saved connection details from SQL Server Management Studio 21 to SSMS 22
vladdba.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
vladdba.com
New blog post:
In which I share my SQL Server Management Studio 22 configuration.
vladdba.com/2025/11/16/m...
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba #sql #ssms
My SQL Server Management Studio 22 configuration
SQL Server Management Studio 22 just went GA this week, so I figured I'd document my new configuration in a blog post.
vladdba.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:49 PM
vladdba.com
New blog post:
In which I demo a pure T-SQL implementation of SQL Server 2025's new PBKDF2 hashing algorithm

#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba #sql #security
Replicating SQL Server 2025's PBKDF2 hashing algorithm using T-SQL
In this post I talk some more about SQL Server 2025's new PBKDF2 and demo a method to replicate it using T-SQL
vladdba.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:37 PM
vladdba.com
Get an additional 10% off of Brent's Black Friday sale prices - find out how: vladdba.com/discount-cod...
brento.bsky.social Brent Ozar @brento.bsky.social · Oct 31
Black Friday Doorbusters Are Open Now, Closing Monday!

You've been telling yourself, "One of these days, I'll finally take Brent's classes." Get ready, because that day is here: my Black Friday sale runs all November long, and it's my lowest prices all year! SQL Server 2025, 2022, and 2019 all…
Black Friday Doorbusters Are Open Now, Closing Monday!
You've been telling yourself, "One of these days, I'll finally take Brent's classes." Get ready, because that day is here: my Black Friday sale runs all November long, and it's my lowest prices all year! SQL Server 2025, 2022, and 2019 all dramatically changed the game for performance tuning. We have more and better tooling than we've ever had before, and there are new places to look when performance goes wrong.
www.brentozar.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:15 PM
vladdba.com
Imagine a 4TB unencrypted SQL Server database backup just sitting there for anyone to find.

#azure #sqlserver #security #infosec
www.neosecurity.nl/blog/ey-data...
The 4TB time bomb: when EY's cloud went public (and what it taught us)
How Neo Security discovered a 4TB SQL Server backup from Ernst & Young publicly exposed on Azure. A deep dive into cloud misconfigurations and why responsible disclosure matters.
www.neosecurity.nl
October 29, 2025 at 9:31 PM
vladdba.com
Me, every time I get a new hyper-fixation and start dumping money into it:
Sam Altman: Whether we burn $500 million, $5 billion, or $50 billion a year - I don't care
October 27, 2025 at 7:56 PM
vladdba.com
New blog post:
SSMS 22 Preview 3 comes with some promissing features and improvements.
And the startup speed has finally been noticeably improved
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba #sql
vladdba.com/2025/10/16/s...
SQL Server Management Studio 22 Preview 3 - first impressions
SQL Server Management Studio 22 Preview 3 was released 2 days ago, so I took it out for a spin and here are my first impressions so far.
vladdba.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
vladdba.com
The latest PSBlitz:
- Updated with non-sp versions of sp_Blitz(Cache/First/Index/Lock/Who), from Brent Ozar's October First Responder Kit
- Adds more memory & instance info
- Improves HTML table layout

#sqlserver #sqldba #powershell #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba #dba #Azure
PSBlitz.ps1 execution flow in PowerShell PSBlitz HTML report main/index page PSBlitz HTML report Instance Overview page PSBlitz HTML report Extended Index Diagnosis page
October 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
vladdba.com
I'm reposting this blog post every time I have to troubleshoot a performance issue caused by this scenario where applications cause ASYNC_NETWORK_IO waits in SQL Server.
vladdba.com/2024/01/22/h...
#sqlserver #mssqldba #sql #dba #mssql #sqldba
How apps cause ASYNC_NETWORK_IO waits in SQL Server
In this post I cover what the ASYNC_NETWORK_IO wait type is, when it occurs, and applications cause ASYNC_NETWORK_IO waits in SQL Server.
vladdba.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:49 PM
vladdba.com
The latest release of PSBlitz:
- Fixes a bug in the HTML report that was breaking hyperlinks to articles (MS Learn, blog posts, etc.)
- Addresses a data type overflow that occurred when retrieving instance information
#sqlserver #sqldba #powershell #mssqlserver #mssql
github.com/VladDBA/PSBl...
GitHub - VladDBA/PSBlitz: a PowerShell-based tool that outputs SQL Server health and performance diagnostics data to either Excel or HTML, and saves execution plans and deadlock graphs as .sqlplan and...
a PowerShell-based tool that outputs SQL Server health and performance diagnostics data to either Excel or HTML, and saves execution plans and deadlock graphs as .sqlplan and .xdl files. - VladDBA/...
github.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:22 PM
vladdba.com
Ah, yes, the mythical SQL Server 2018 that only Copilot and probably Satya know about.😅
Copilot Search returning information about Maximum Partitions in SQL Server 2018
September 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
vladdba.com
Blog post from the past:
In which I address improper linked server configurations and their potential impact, as well as recommendations for securing SQL Server linked servers.
#sqlserver #sqldba #microsoftsqlserver #mssqlserver #mssql #mssqldba
vladdba.com/2023/07/10/s...
Securing SQL Server linked servers
In this post I address improper security configurations and their impact, as well as recommendations for securing SQL Server linked servers.
vladdba.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:42 PM
vladdba.com
The latest release of PSBlitz:
- Fixes some bugs related to the HTML report
#sqlserver #sqldba #powershell #mssqlserver #mssql
github.com/VladDBA/PSBl...
GitHub - VladDBA/PSBlitz: a PowerShell-based tool that outputs SQL Server health and performance diagnostics data to either Excel or HTML, and saves execution plans and deadlock graphs as .sqlplan and...
a PowerShell-based tool that outputs SQL Server health and performance diagnostics data to either Excel or HTML, and saves execution plans and deadlock graphs as .sqlplan and .xdl files. - VladDBA/...
github.com
September 11, 2025 at 5:35 PM