Practical SQL Server help for complex data environments.
Michael Paycer is a SQL Server DBA and Developer with 19+ years of experience in database administration, performance tuning, high availability, disaster recovery, ETL, and secure database architecture.
This site focuses on the technical side of his work: solving SQL Server performance problems, stabilizing mission-critical systems, planning migrations, and helping organizations build database platforms that are faster, safer, and easier to maintain.
Services
- SQL Server Performance Tuning: query optimization, execution plan review, indexing strategy, blocking, and deadlock analysis.
- Always-On & HA/DR: Availability Group design, multi-subnet architecture, failover planning, and disaster recovery validation.
- Database Migrations: upgrades from SQL Server 2008/2012/2016 to modern SQL Server versions and cloud platforms.
- ETL & Reporting: SSIS, SSRS, Azure data workflows, data imports, transformations, and reporting optimization.
- Security & Compliance: database hardening, access review, PCI, DoD STIGs, SOC2-aligned controls, and operational documentation.
- Cloud Database Support: Azure SQL, AWS RDS, EC2-hosted SQL Server, backup strategy, monitoring, and reliability improvements.
Focused on reliability, speed, and recoverability.
- Query optimization and execution plan analysis
- Indexing, statistics, and maintenance strategy
- Deadlock troubleshooting and blocking analysis
- Backup, restore, and recovery planning
- Database migration and upgrade readiness
- Always-On Availability Groups and failover testing
- SSIS package troubleshooting and ETL development
- SSRS reporting performance improvement
- SQL Server security hardening and compliance
- Azure SQL and AWS SQL Server environments
Experience across consulting, enterprise systems, and cloud data platforms.
Michael has supported clients across healthcare, education, hospitality, government-adjacent environments, SaaS platforms, and enterprise operations. His background includes SQL Server administration, development, ETL, SSRS, application support, cloud database architecture, and high availability design.
- 360+ verified client reviews through Upwork and long-term consulting relationships.
- SQL Server development and administration for 25+ active client environments.
- Database migrations, SSIS/SSRS upgrades, linked server conversion, and SQL Agent job modernization.
- Always-On Availability Group implementation, DR strategy, and failover testing.
- Security hardening for SQL Server, IIS, Windows Server, PCI requirements, and STIG-aligned environments.
Technical topics this site can expand into.
How to Fix SQL Server Performance Issues
A practical process for reviewing wait stats, slow queries, execution plans, indexes, blocking, and server configuration.
Always-On Availability Groups Explained
Best practices for SQL Server HA/DR architecture, including listener configuration, failover testing, backups, and multi-subnet deployments.
SQL Server Migration Checklist
What to review before upgrading SQL Server versions: compatibility level, jobs, linked servers, SSIS packages, SSRS, logins, and application connection strings.
Certifications & Recognition
- MCTS: Microsoft SQL Server Development
- MCP: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2014
- CompTIA A+
- CWNP CWNA
Michael Paycer Online
This SQL Server DBA resource is maintained by Michael Paycer. Connect through LinkedIn, review client feedback on Upwork, or follow SQL Server updates on X/Twitter.
Need help with SQL Server?
Available for SQL Server consulting, performance tuning, HA/DR architecture, ETL support, migrations, and database troubleshooting.
Email: michael.paycer@gmail.com
Personal site: Michael Paycer
More from Michael Paycer
These pages expand the site with specific SQL Server topics, professional profile links, and unique content designed to help search engines understand Michael Paycer's SQL Server DBA, development, consulting, and database services background.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there multiple Michael Paycer websites?
Each site has a different purpose: michaelpaycer.com is the personal brand, sqlserverdba.com is the technical authority site, and sqlserverservices.com focuses on SQL Server consulting services.
What SQL Server work does Michael Paycer do?
Michael Paycer works on SQL Server DBA support, development, database design, SSRS, SSIS, SSAS, performance tuning, HA/DR, migrations, cloud databases, and security/compliance support.
Where else can I verify Michael Paycer's professional background?
You can review Michael Paycer's LinkedIn, Upwork, and X/Twitter profiles, all linked from this website.