IntermediateModerate
Data Warehouse Starter
A specialized setup leveraging Columnstore indexes and BI tools for fast analytical queries.
Recommended Edition
SQL Server Standard / Enterprise
Version
2022
Best For
Analytics, reporting, and ETL
Required Components
- Database Engine
- Integration Services (SSIS)
Optional Add-ons
- Reporting Services (SSRS)
- Analysis Services (SSAS)
Hardware / Cloud Recommendations
- 64GB+ RAM
- Fast sequential read storage
- High core count
Licensing Notes
Enterprise edition required for advanced Columnstore features or large scale.
Backup Recommendation
Filegroup backups, optimized for very large databases.
Monitoring Recommendation
Query Store, specialized BI monitoring.
SQLDevDBA's Take
Columnstore indexes are one of SQL Server's most underutilized features for analytics. This setup gets you started on the right foot. Just make sure your ETL pipeline is solid and well-tested before you scale up.
Startup Checklist
- Download SQL Server installer from Microsoft (microsoft.com/sql-server/downloads)
- Install the SQL Server Database Engine
- Create a DBAAdmin database to house admin and maintenance scripts
- Enable the Dedicated Admin Connection (DAC) via sp_configure
- Configure and validate automated backup jobs
Security Checklist
- Row-level security for data access control
- Dynamic Data Masking for sensitive columns
- Disable or deny the SA (System Administrator) login
- Configure Windows Firewall rules for SQL Server (TCP 1433)
Additional (Optional) Checklist
- Install dbatools PowerShell module (dbatools.io) for automation and migrations
- Install Brent Ozar's First Responder Kit (sp_Blitz, sp_BlitzFirst, sp_BlitzIndex)
- Install Adam Machanic's sp_WhoIsActive for real-time active session monitoring
- Install Erik Darling's performance scripts (sp_PressureDetector, sp_HumanEvents)
- Install Ola Hallengren's Maintenance Solution for backups, integrity checks, and index maintenance
Architecture Diagram
Available in the Pro tier. Visual diagrams for every setup.