Query & Performance Optimization
Slow queries, high CPU, blocking chains, runaway execution plans. We find the root cause, fix it, and give you before/after numbers so you can see the difference.
Database Consulting
SQL Server Database Consulting
From Engineers Who've Seen It Before.
Got a SQL Server project? Performance problem? Migration to plan? Buy a block of hours with a senior database consultant who's been doing this for 15+ years. Use them on whatever you need. They never expire.
120+ Organizations Served
15+ yrs Min. DBA Experience
Up to 5,000x Faster Queries (Service King)
Never Hours Expire
Trusted by organizations from startups to Fortune 100
Project Types
What Our Database Consulting Covers
Every project starts with a call to scope the work. We'll tell you how many hours it'll take and which package fits. Here's what most clients hire us for.
Database Migration Consulting
On-prem to Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud. Data center to data center. We handle planning, testing, cutover, and post-migration validation. Rollback scripts at every step.
Version Upgrades
SQL 2012 to 2022, 2016 to 2019, or any combination. We test compatibility, handle deprecated features, and benchmark performance before and after.
Security Audits
Permission reviews, encryption configuration, login auditing, vulnerability scans. We document gaps and give you a prioritized fix list mapped to your compliance requirements.
Architecture Reviews
Database design, HA/DR strategy, storage layout, capacity planning. We look at how your environment is built and tell you what's working and what's going to cause problems.
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Backup strategy design, restore testing, failover clustering, Always On Availability Groups setup. We make sure you can actually recover when something goes wrong.
Consulting Packages
Database Consulting Packages
Buy hours, use them on anything. We scope the work during a free call and recommend the right package. If you don't use all the hours on one project, save them for the next one.
Block
20 Hours
$4,995
one-time
Hours never expire
- ✓ Senior DBA with 15+ years
- ✓ Use on any SQL Server work
- ✓ Start as soon as the next day, depending on our schedule
- ✓ Before/after performance reports
- ✓ Free 145-point health check included
Block
40 Hours
$9,495
one-time · 5% discount
Hours never expire
- ✓ Senior DBA with 15+ years
- ✓ Use on any SQL Server work
- ✓ Start as soon as the next day, depending on our schedule
- ✓ Before/after performance reports
- ✓ Free 145-point health check included
Plan
Unlimited
$6,500
/month · annual agreement
or $7,150/month · month-to-month
- ✓ Senior DBA with 15+ years
- ✓ No hourly caps
- ✓ Dedicated DBA assigned to you
- ✓ Before/after performance reports
- ✓ Free 145-point health check included
*** Block hours never expire. Unlimited Plan: annual commitment required for $6,500/mo rate.
Process
How a Database Consulting Engagement Works
Most projects kick off within a few days of your first call.
Scope the Work
Free 30-minute call. We talk about your project and estimate how many hours it'll take.
Pick a Package
Choose the block that fits. If you're not sure, we'll recommend one based on the scope.
We Get to Work
Your DBA can start as soon as the next day, depending on our schedule. You get regular updates and access to ask questions.
Results Delivered
You get a written summary with what was done, what changed, and before/after metrics where applicable.
Case Study
Service King Collision: Daily SQL Server Outages, a $1M Hardware Plan, No New Servers
Service King's SQL Server was failing almost daily, with 30 to 45 minute outages that locked every location out of customer check-in. Leadership was considering a $1M hardware upgrade, assuming the servers had hit capacity. Red9 stepped in, identified the real root causes (misconfigured storage, database corruption, unoptimized queries), and fixed them without buying a single new server. Read the full Service King case study.
10-5,000x Query speed improvement
11-15x SAN storage speed gain
50% Backup time reduction
~200 Queries optimized
$0 New hardware purchased
From Our Clients
What Database Consulting Clients Say
A True Partner
"We view Red9 as an extension of our IT department. They monitor and manage our SQL Server performance, support us when we encounter issues, and help us make sure our SQL statements are efficient. They are a true partner."
Highly Capable and Productive
"Red9 proved to be highly capable and productive. They provided complete end-to-end evaluation on database design, development and performance capacity and successfully executed those recommendations."
Outstanding Job
"Database integration changes. Red9, again, did an outstanding job. Was quick, very knowledgeable and professional. This was a second hire, and there will be more!"
Problems We Fix
What Clients Hire a Database Consultant to Fix
Most consulting calls start with a SQL Server problem the in-house team has already tried to fix:
- Slow queries and high CPU. Response times that crept up after a release, a data spike or a version change, and nobody can trace the cause.
- Outages during business hours. Unexpected cluster failovers that drop every connection, database corruption, or backup jobs that overrun their window and slow production.
- A hardware request on the table. The server “hit capacity,” so the plan is to buy more. Service King was weighing a $1M+ hardware purchase and needed none.
- An upgrade or migration with a deadline. A SQL Server version reaching end of support, or a move to Azure, AWS or a new data center that has to happen with minimal downtime.
Every consulting package includes the free 145-point health check, and the work ends with a prioritized action plan and a written summary of what was done and what changed. Migrations and upgrades add rollback scripts for each step, with the old environment kept intact until the new one is validated, and a before-and-after comparison: we capture baseline performance on the old server and measure the new one against it. At Red9 the database consultant doing that work is a SQL Server specialist with 15+ years on the platform, and you buy their time in a block of hours that never expires. No retainer, no lock-in, no junior learning on your production server.
How to Choose
How to Choose a Database Consulting Firm
Most database consulting firms are generalist IT shops that also touch databases. A few specialize. Four things separate them:
Not all database consultants are the same. Some firms hand you a junior DBA consultant and a stack of generic recommendations. Here is how to spot the database management consultants who will actually move the needle.
- Platform depth, not breadth. A firm that does SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Postgres, and Mongo splits its attention five ways. Ask how much of the work is the platform you actually run.
- Who does the work. Some firms sell a senior name and staff the job with juniors. Ask whether the person on the scoping call is the person on your server.
- Engagement model. Block hours and project scopes keep you in control. Open-ended retainers bill whether or not there is work to do.
- Response time. When a consulting fix touches production, who picks up if it goes wrong? Red9 can often start as soon as the next day, depending on our schedule, and agrees the start date with you on the free scoping call. Our emergency support covers production-down events 24/7, and managed and emergency clients get a 7.3-minute average response on high-priority issues.
Not sure where your environment stands? Start with a free SQL Server assessment, a 145-point audit that tells you what to fix before you scope the work.
Our Scope
We Do SQL Server. Only SQL Server.
Red9 is a Microsoft SQL Server shop, including Azure SQL. If you run MySQL, Postgres, or Mongo, we are not your firm, and we will say so on the first call. That focus is the point: every consultant has spent 15+ years on SQL Server and nothing else. For platform-specific engagements, see our SQL Server consulting page.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does database consulting cost?
20 hours for $4,995, 40 hours for $9,495 (5% discount), or unlimited hours for $6,500/month on an annual agreement ($7,150/mo month-to-month). We scope every project during a free call so you know the cost before committing.
Do the hours expire?
No. Block hours never expire. If you buy 20 hours and only use 12 on your current project, the remaining 8 sit there until you need them. Use them next month, next quarter, or next year.
What does database consulting include?
Anything SQL Server related. Performance tuning, migrations, version upgrades, security audits, architecture reviews, backup and DR strategy, HA setup, query optimization, capacity planning, compliance prep. If it touches SQL Server, our DBAs can do it.
How fast can you start?
We can often start as soon as the next day, depending on our schedule. We'll work out timing during the scoping call.
What's the difference between consulting and managed services?
Consulting is project-based. You buy hours, we do the work, and we deliver results. Managed services is ongoing: 24/7 monitoring, alert response, proactive tuning, and service requests month over month. If you have a specific problem to solve, consulting is the right fit. If you need ongoing coverage, that's managed services.
Do I get a dedicated DBA?
On the Unlimited plan, yes. You get a single DBA assigned to your account who learns your environment in depth. On block packages, we assign the DBA best suited to your project type. Either way, every DBA has at least 15 years of SQL Server experience.
Will I get a report when the project is done?
Yes. Every consulting engagement ends with a written summary of what was done, what changed, and before/after performance metrics where applicable. You also get the 145-point health check report that's included free with every package.
What if my project needs more hours than I bought?
We'll tell you before we run out. If the project needs more time, you can add another block. We won't stop mid-project or surprise you with overages. You'll always know where you stand on hours.
What does a database consultant do?
A database consultant, sometimes called a DBA consultant, diagnoses what is slowing down, costing, or threatening your database, fixes it, and hands your team a plan they can run without us. Red9 database consultants are senior SQL Server DBAs with 15+ years each. No juniors, no handoffs.
Got a Database Project?
Let's Scope It.
Free 30-minute call. We'll estimate the hours, recommend a package, and give you a clear timeline. No pressure.
Book Your Free Call