The creation and maintenance of a SQL server database environment is no simple task. There are many parameters to consider for design, support, and troubleshooting. Making mistakes in these areas or missing important details will makes these tasks much more difficult.

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Below is a list of five common mistakes when building and maintaining a SQL Server database environment. There are definitely more mistakes that are made but you should be mindful of these.

1. No Plans To Backup
Failure to regularly backup your databases is an invitation for disaster. Backup planning should involve regular backups, ability to gather and recover backed up data, and use of locations other than database server for storage purposes. Make a point to perform backups early and often. Situations where backups are unavailable are not good for anyone.

2. Using an Ad Hoc Query
Users should only be allowed to access the database through stored procedures on the application level. An Ad Hoc query enables users to write their very own code against the database with various different permissions. A procedure that is stored will only allow EXECUTE permissions which provides better performance through caching and compiling and also preserves the integrity of the data. Ideal SQL optimization starts with getting rid of all or most of these ad hoc queries.

3. Improper Testing
Putting code into production without testing is nearly as bad having a poor backup plan. Another big mistake is to not allow for the proper beta testing and on-going testing An optimal pre-production test should be as similar as possible to the production environment. Databases that are used for testing are typically smaller and will not always scale well to a full-fledged production environment. Performing tests now is always preferred over making fixes later.

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4. Insufficient Monitoring
You can’t expect to flick the switch and have your databases run perfectly without performance issues. Quality SQL optimization will need constant performance monitoring so that users are always getting the best possible experience at any given time. Not performing the proper monitoring opens you up to slowed performance due to applications and queries using up system resources. These SQL server hardware environments and queries need to be monitored an optimized frequently to make sure the system is performing to its optimum potential. SQL monitors give DBAs a historical view of trend data to help them create a plan to tune the database and improve performance.

5. Improper Process for Change Management
There needs to be a lot of thought put into changing even the most stable production environments. It requires the appropriate testing, planning, and implementation processes. Using a change management process will offer better structure when making changes. If database changes don’t go according to plan, having the right documentation of how, why and when changes should be made will provide for quick reversions. Thorough pre-production tests must also be a piece in the change management puzzle. Don’t forget to document everything that you do.