IntermediateModerate
Small Business SQL Standard
A solid mid-tier production setup supporting larger databases and more memory/CPU.
Recommended Edition
SQL Server Standard
Version
2022
Best For
Scalable small-to-medium production
Required Components
- SQL Server Database Engine
- SQL Server Agent
Optional Add-ons
- Reporting Services (SSRS)
- Integration Services (SSIS)
Hardware / Cloud Recommendations
- 16GB-64GB RAM
- Enterprise SSDs
- 4-16 Cores
Licensing Notes
Requires Server+CAL or Core-based licensing. Max 24 Cores, 128GB RAM per instance.
Backup Recommendation
Ola Hallengren scripts via SQL Agent.
Monitoring Recommendation
Third-party monitoring (e.g., Redgate, SentryOne) or custom dashboards.
SQLDevDBA's Take
Standard Edition hits the sweet spot for most small-to-medium businesses. Enough horsepower for serious workloads without the Enterprise price tag. Pair it with a solid backup strategy and you're in good shape.
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
- Active Directory integration for logins
- Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)
- Audit logging enabled
- 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.