Duration 5 days – 35 hrs

 

Overview

 

This Database Administrator – MS SQL Server 2025 Training Course provides participants with practical and enterprise-focused knowledge in administering Microsoft SQL Server 2025 environments while leveraging open source tools, utilities, monitoring platforms, automation frameworks, and DevOps practices.

 

The course covers the essential responsibilities of a Database Administrator (DBA), including SQL Server installation and configuration, database management, backup and recovery, security administration, performance tuning, monitoring, troubleshooting, high availability, and operational maintenance. In addition, participants will learn how to integrate open source technologies such as DBeaver, Grafana, Prometheus, Docker, ELK Stack, Git, and automation tools into modern SQL Server administration workflows.

 

This training combines lectures, demonstrations, guided labs, hands-on exercises, workshops, and real-world DBA operational scenarios to prepare participants for production-level SQL Server administration and operations.

 

Objectives

 

• Understand SQL Server 2025 architecture and DBA responsibilities 
• Install, configure, and manage SQL Server environments 
• Administer databases, storage, and server configurations 
• Implement database security and access management 
• Perform backup, restore, and disaster recovery procedures 
• Monitor and optimize SQL Server performance 
• Automate database administration tasks 
• Configure high availability and business continuity solutions 
• Troubleshoot common SQL Server operational issues 
• Integrate open source monitoring and administration tools 
• Apply operational and enterprise DBA best practices 

Target Audience

 

• Database Administrators (DBAs) 
• Junior and Aspiring DBAs 
• System Administrators 
• Infrastructure Engineers 
• Database Developers 
• DevOps Engineers 
• IT Operations Personnel 
• Technical Support Engineers 
• Data Engineers 
• IT Professionals responsible for SQL Server operations

 

Prerequisites 

• Basic understanding of relational databases 

• Basic SQL querying skills 

• Familiarity with Windows operating systems 

• Basic networking knowledge 

• Prior experience with databases is beneficial but not mandatory

 

Course Outline 

 

Module 1: Introduction to SQL Server 2025 and DBA Fundamentals

 

• Overview of Microsoft SQL Server 2025 
• SQL Server Editions and Licensing Overview 
• SQL Server Architecture and Components 
• Database Engine Overview 
• SQL Server Services and Processes 
• Roles and Responsibilities of a DBA 
• SQL Server Administration Tools 
• Introduction to Open Source DBA Ecosystem 

Open Source Tools Covered

• DBeaver 
• Azure Data Studio 
• Git 

Hands-On

• Exploring SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 
• Connecting to SQL Server using DBeaver 

 

Module 2: Installing and Configuring SQL Server 2025

 

• Installation Planning and Requirements 
• SQL Server Installation Process 
• Configuring SQL Server Instances 
• SQL Server Configuration Manager 
• Managing Services and Startup Settings 
• Configuring Network Connectivity 
• Authentication Modes 
• Server-Level Configuration 

Hands-On

• Installing SQL Server 2025 
• Configuring connectivity and services 
• Managing SQL Server instances 

 

Module 3: Database Administration and Storage Management

 

• Creating and Managing Databases 
• Database Files and Filegroups 
• Managing Tables and Schemas 
• Understanding Data Types and Constraints 
• TempDB Administration 
• Database Recovery Models 
• Storage Planning and Capacity Management 
• Importing and Exporting Data 

Hands-On

• Creating databases and schemas 
• Managing storage and filegroups 
• Import/export exercises 

 

Module 4: SQL Server Security Administration

 

• SQL Server Security Architecture 
• Managing Logins and Users 
• Database Roles and Permissions 
• Authentication and Authorization 
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) 
• Encryption Concepts 
• SQL Server Auditing 
• Security Hardening Best Practices 

Hands-On

• Configuring users and permissions 
• Implementing RBAC 
• Enabling auditing settings 

 

Module 5: Backup, Restore, and Recovery Management

 

• Backup Strategies and Planning 
• Full Backup 
• Differential Backup 
• Transaction Log Backup 
• Recovery Models Explained 
• Database Restore Operations 
• Point-in-Time Recovery 
• Disaster Recovery Planning 
• Backup Validation and Testing 

Hands-On

• Performing backup and restore operations 
• Recovery simulation exercises 
• Automating backup tasks 

 

Module 6: Performance Monitoring and Optimization

 

• SQL Server Performance Fundamentals 
• Monitoring SQL Server Health 
• Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) 
• Query Execution Plans 
• Identifying Performance Bottlenecks 
• Indexing Strategies 
• Statistics Maintenance 
• Query Optimization Techniques 

Open Source Tools Covered

• Grafana 
• Prometheus 

Hands-On

• Monitoring SQL Server performance 
• Query tuning and optimization 
• Index performance exercises 

 

Module 7: SQL Server Agent and Automation

 

• Introduction to SQL Server Agent 
• Creating Jobs and Schedules 
• Automating Administrative Tasks 
• Maintenance Plans 
• Alerts and Notifications 
• PowerShell Basics for DBAs 
• Scripting DBA Operations 

Hands-On

• Creating automated jobs 
• Configuring maintenance plans 
• Scheduling backup and monitoring tasks 

 

Module 8: High Availability and Disaster Recovery

 

• High Availability Concepts 
• Always On Availability Groups 
• Failover Cluster Concepts 
• Log Shipping 
• Replication Overview 
• Disaster Recovery Strategies 
• Business Continuity Planning 
• High Availability Best Practices 

Hands-On

• Configuring HA concepts 
• Simulating failover scenarios 

 

Module 9: Monitoring, Logging, and Troubleshooting

 

• SQL Server Monitoring Techniques 
• Error Logs and Diagnostics 
• Deadlocks and Blocking Analysis 
• Troubleshooting Connectivity Problems 
• Resource Utilization Monitoring 
• Database Integrity Checks 
• Capacity Planning 
• Preventive Maintenance 

Open Source Tools Covered

• ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) 
• Grafana Dashboards 

Hands-On

• Troubleshooting SQL Server issues 
• Creating monitoring dashboards 
• Reviewing logs and alerts 

 

Module 10: Modern SQL Server DBA Operations and Capstone Project

 

• SQL Server in Cloud and Hybrid Environments 
• Containerized SQL Server Concepts 
• Docker for SQL Server Administration 
• DevOps and Database Administration 
• Git Version Control for Database Scripts 
• CI/CD Concepts for Databases 
• Enterprise DBA Operational Best Practices 
• Future Trends in Database Administration 

Open Source Tools Covered

• Docker 
• Git 
• GitHub Actions (Introduction) 

 

Capstone Project

• Install and configure SQL Server 
• Secure and manage databases 
• Implement backup and recovery plans 
• Optimize database performance 
• Configure monitoring and automation 
• Troubleshoot operational issues 
• Present a complete SQL Server DBA operational environment