SQL Server Parameter Sniffing: How Index Tuning Reduces Performance Risk with Brent Ozar

Learn how SQL Server index tuning can reduce the performance risk of parameter sniffing, improve execution plan stability, and limit the impact of bad plan choices with Brent Ozar. Parameter sniffing in SQL Server is often easy to spot but difficult to pin down. The SQL Server optimizer chooses an execution plan based on the first execution, and that plan can ripple across your workload in ways that are not always obvious. A major part of that risk comes down to how your indexes influence plan selection, including whether SQL Server chooses an index seek with key lookups or a table scan. In this session, SQL Server expert Brent Ozar explains how deliberate index tuning can reduce the blast radius when parameter sniffing causes performance issues. You’ll learn how to think more practically about sniffing, plan selection, query performance, and the indexing decisions that shape SQL Server behavior. Topics covered include: What parameter sniffing means for SQL Server performance Why parameter sniffing can cause unpredictable query behavior How SQL Server execution plans are influenced by the first execution Why index seek plus key lookup plans can create performance risk When SQL Server may choose a table scan instead How index design affects execution plan selection How index tuning can reduce the blast radius of bad plans Practical ways to think about SQL Server sniffing and plan stability Index tuning strategies for DBAs and SQL developers How to reduce workload-wide performance impact from poor plan choices This video is ideal for SQL Server DBAs, database administrators, SQL developers, database engineers, and performance tuning professionals who need practical strategies for troubleshooting parameter sniffing, slow queries, indexing issues, and SQL Server execution plan problems. Watch this session to learn how better index tuning can help reduce SQL Server performance risk, improve plan stability, and make parameter sniffing issues less disruptive. Learn more about SQL Diagnostic Manager: https://www.idera.com/products/sql-di... Start a free trial of SQL Diagnostic Manager: https://www.idera.com/products/sql-di... Explore SQL Server performance monitoring with SQL Diagnostic Manager: https://www.idera.com/products/sql-di... Try IDERA’s free AI SQL Query Optimizer: https://www.idera.com/productssolutio... Explore IDERA free tools for DBAs and IT professionals: https://www.idera.com/productssolutio... Explore IDERA database monitoring solutions: https://www.idera.com/database-monito... Explore IDERA SQL Server tools: https://www.idera.com/ #SQLServer #ParameterSniffing #IndexTuning #SQLServerPerformance #BrentOzar #ExecutionPlans #QueryOptimization #DatabaseAdministration #DBA #IDERA