Voice of the DBA

Tag: speaking

  • T-SQL Tuesday #61 – Giving Back

    tsqltuesdayIt’s that time of month again, the time when we have a day where everyone writes on the same topic.

    This month Wayne Sheffield is the host and has chosen Giving Back as his theme. It’s a good one with the holidays and it’s one that really inspired SQLServerCentral. We built a business, but one that was founded on helping others and giving back to the community. The same could be said for SQL Saturday as well.

    Volunteering

    First the soap box. Everyone should give back to the world at some point in their lives. Perhaps it’s when you’re younger, perhaps when you retire, maybe it’s this weekend, but you should volunteer to make the world a better place.

    Now for my plans for giving back.

    They won’t change a lot from the past few years. I look to speak at various SQL Saturdays and User Groups in 2015. While Red Gate funds my travel and sometimes asks me attend events, I choose many on my own. I also donate my time as I don’t get a shorter week when I’m delivering a talk or two on Saturday. I still have the same responsibilities and deadlines to manage during the week.

    In 2015, I’m going to try and get to 8 SQL Saturdays. I did 11 in 2014, but I’m not sure I’ll end up with the same number. We’re still planning out 2015, and I don’t have any SQL Saturdays in the first quarter, but I’m hoping to make up a few later in the year.

    I also plan to get to each of the Denver area user groups in 2015. I managed to speak in Boulder, Denver, and Colorado Springs in 2014 and I hope to do the same in 2015.

  • SQL in the City 2014 – Washington DC

    I’m off today, traveling to SQL in the City 2014 – Washington DC to meet Grant and deliver another database delivery seminar. We’ll be talking about Version Control, testing, continuous integration, and database delivery, and showing off some of the Red Gate tools that can make the process easier.

    I really think that you will reap benefits if you start to build a software delivery pipeline and incorporate some of the agile/ALM/DLM processes into your software build system. It’s some work up front, and maintenance ongoing, but it does allow you to regression test, rapidly review changes, and consistently deploy software to your production systems.

    Not easy, but it does build solid engineering habits and should help you deliver software reliably, and quickly.

    We’re looking at doing more seminars in 2015 and are planning things now. If you’re interested in having us some to your city, perhaps around a SQL Saturday, or maybe just because you don’t have any events, send a request to Red Gate. Use sqlinthecity@red-gate.com and let them know you want Grant and myself to swing by.

  • Encryption in Colorado Springs – Encrypting in the Application?

    Last night was my annual presentation at the Colorado Springs SQL Server User Group. I try to make sure I get down there at least once a year, and it’s been only once a year for the last few years. Far too busy, and I’m sorry for that, but I am glad I get invited to go down.

    I presented The Encryption Primer, and there were a few interesting questions asked. Always good to see people debating and asking questions.

    One interesting one from a developer – If I can perform encryption in the application, why would I do use something like TDE or column level encryption?

    To me, I prefer to do encryption as close to the source as possible. If I can do the encryption in the application front end, I’d do it there. It reduces the chances of having the data accidentally disclosed. I don’t have to worry about having data read across the wire, or in a backup tape, or anywhere else.

    However that takes time and effort. Developers are expensive, and they have to write good, solid, secure code in the application. They also have to write this encryption code in every application that accesses the database (reports, ETL, etc.).

    Something like TDE is much easier to setup and use. Column level encryption, while still coding, is centralized.

    It’s a balance, and one you need to consider carefully and thoroughly. It also helps to debate and discuss the decisions about what you protect, why, and what it costs.

  • SQL Konference 2015

    My first speaking date of the new year is scheduled. I’ll be at the SQL Server Konference 2015, near Frankfurt, Germany. Red Gate arranged things, and I’m looking forward to heading over and renting a car to drive in Germany.

    And speaking, of course.

    I don’t know the agenda or details, or which session I’m presenting, but it’s exciting.

    Slightly bittersweet as I won’t make SQL Saturday #358 in Albuquerque. I’ve been to the last two, taking a day to ski at Taos, but I can’t make it this year as I’ll be speaking that week in Europe.