Automate repetitive SQL Server maintenance instead of relying on daily manual work. Automation reduces human error, prevents routine tasks from being abandoned during urgent incidents, and frees DBAs to investigate higher-value performance problems. section 9.9 section 9.12
Mistake #51: Failing to automate
At MagicChoc, backups run through a corporate tool such as Commvault or NetBackup, but DBAs manually perform index rebuilds, statistics updates, and consistency checks. The routine work is dull, may be dropped when urgent operations arrive, and invites errors from repetitive tasks. Hand-crafting SQL Server Agent jobs separately on every instance creates another maintenance problem: decentralized automation. section 9.9 section 9.9
Apply these operational rules:
- Automate routine maintenance wherever possible, including index rebuilds, statistics updates, and consistency checks. section 9.9
- Use automation to reduce manual effort and human error rather than allowing repetitive work to depend on individual availability. section 9.12 section 9.9
- Review the automation design across instances; duplicating hand-crafted jobs can create decentralized administration. section 9.9
