Embriq is a Norwegian tech company and a leading provider of advanced IT operations, software, industrial IoT technology, and consulting services. The company operates in both Norway and Sweden, serving customers across the Nordic region.
Embriq assists its customers in simplifying complexity, ensuring their mission-critical operations, and optimizing their competitiveness.
Key Advantages of dbWatch
- Proactive Database Monitoring provides a clear status overview of servers and an intuitive color-coded system to highlight urgent issues.
- Patch Management and Reporting tracking patch updates, noting which servers need updates, and providing URLs for new patches.
- Efficient Issue Resolution helps identify, troubleshoot, and resolve database issues like blocking issues quickly before they cause significant issues.
Especially for companies without a DBA tool, dbWatch is an easy decision because it doesn't come with the high cost of other solutions.
Database administrators (DBAs) working with managed service providers (MSPs) need to have the right tools to support their employees’ efficiency and reliability. When Morten Gausen joined Embriq as a Senior SQL DBA, he had one specific request for his new employer’s tech stack: he wanted dbWatch. For Morten, dbWatch was an essential part of his daily workflow, and he urged for this tool to be purchased as part of the DBA role.
The decision didn’t require a debate or lengthy approval process. Morten made a comparison of the capability and price of database monitoring systems available for his managers. They quickly saw that dbWatch was very cost-effective and could add value to their MSP, making it a clear choice.
Each workday, Morten begins with dbWatch. “I go into dbWatch and see the status of the servers,” Morten explains. “Then I check the emails that have come in overnight to get a history of any issues.” dbWatch’s intuitive color-coded system simplifies this process and supports proactive work. Red clearly denotes any urgent problems, like problematic servers, alarms, or potential failures. “It makes troubleshooting faster and more efficient. I can see which servers are okay and which need attention.”
Beyond the monitoring function, dbWatch also plays a key role in tracking patches and generating reports. The dbWatch patch management feature notes the servers that need to be updated and provides the URLs of the new patches. DBAs can also set custom delays to ensure patches are stable before deployment.
Learn more about patch management in dbWatch in our Wiki.
dbWatch makes troubleshooting faster and more efficient. I can see which servers are okay and which need attention.
Why dbWatch Belongs in Your Tech Stack
Various database monitoring tools are on the market today, but for Morten, dbWatch stands out for its affordability, support, and ease of use. “The product’s price sets it apart,” Morten said. “Especially for companies without a DBA tool, dbWatch is an easy decision because it doesn’t come with the high cost of other solutions.”
Without a dedicated tool, DBA teams often build their own tools and have manual routines for monitoring and reporting – reinventing the wheel at every step. With dbWatch, Morten and his team avoid wasting time and have a tool that works out of the box. “It’s very easy to deploy,” Morten said. “It’s simple to add servers; you don’t need a large system to turn it. You just need to open the correct ports between what you’re monitoring and the monitoring server.”
Real World Examples
With dbWatch constantly monitoring, Morten and his team can work proactively and address issues before they become critical. In one case, dbWatch flagged a database corruption issue that would have gone unnoticed until it had shut down the database. Morten recalls, “When we looked into it, we could use dbWatch to see what was happening; we didn’t even have to go into the server logs.” Because they identified the issue early, Morten and his team could restore the database from the correct backup point, avoiding downtime.
Blocking issues are another common challenge that dbWatch helps manage. One morning, Morten found a severe overnight blocking incident caused by a failed maintenance task. “When I checked dbWatch, I saw a huge issue. I went into the dbWatch GUI, located where the block was happening, and could click on the blocking session to stop it.” Because Morten had real-time insights, he could immediately act on the issue rather than contacting someone else to release the block.
dbWatch is an integral part of Morten’s database management strategy. It enables him to:
- Detect and resolve issues proactively before they impact operations.
- Track and manage patch updates efficiently.
- Quickly identify and address database locks and blocking issues.
