DEVOPSdigest

Redgate launched SQL Monitor 9.1, the latest version of the world’s most popular tool for monitoring SQL Server estates.

New features include an expanded API to help fine-tune alerting through Microsoft PowerShell, and a unique permissions function. This supports tightened security and compliance by providing a drill-down view of who has access to monitored databases and servers, and their permissions level.

SQL Monitor provides real-time SQL Server performance monitoring, scalable across even the largest estates. It delivers instant problem diagnosis and intelligent and customizable monitoring, enabling database administrators (DBAs) to proactively find and fix issues before they impact business performance.

Developed and introduced based on customer feedback, the SQL Monitor PowerShell API allows users to write PowerShell scripts to configure what areas and parameters the tool should monitor and to specify how they are alerted to issues. This ensures that DBAs can be alerted to what really concerns them in a way that best suits their needs, with the ability to instantly replicate these settings across their entire database estate.

Data compliance is a key business imperative in the age of regulations such as the GDPR, HIPAA and the forthcoming California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). SQL Monitor’s new permissions table aids auditing and compliance by providing an instant overview of who has access, and at what level, to specific servers and databases. DBAs can then drill down to see more details, such as when a user last logged in, as well as delivering a count of Windows Logins, Active Directory Accounts and SQL Server logins.

SQL Monitor 9.1 follows the release of version 9.0 in February 2019. This introduced the ability to seamlessly monitor hybrid and cloud SQL server estates, including both Azure Managed Instances and SQL Database Elastic Pools. Users can monitor their entire SQL Server estate, whether on-premises or in Azure, from a single dashboard and know instantly when any problem on any server arises.

As Jamie Wallis, Product Marketing Manager, Redgate Software, comments: “We’re continually listening to users to ensure that SQL Monitor is both simple to use and delivers the functionality they need to do their jobs in the most efficient way possible. The new PowerShell API has been introduced directly due to user feedback, and along with the permissions table feature shows our commitment to developing the tool. I’d encourage all our users to keep engaging with us through our user forums to ensure we are always delivering on their changing requirements.”