Platform Review
When automated health checks don't give you the full picture, this is the next step.
Most health checks run a tool and hand you a report. We do something different — a handcrafted review built around your environment, your concerns and what you actually need to fix first.
Fixed fee, agreed upfront
One price confirmed before we start. No day-rate creep, no suprises.
Conducted by senior engineers
Every review is done by an experienced specialist who understands your platform.
A report you can actually use
Specific next steps and a walkthrough call so you know exactly where to focus.
Our approach
A review built around your platform, not a template
We’ve spent decades inside SQL Server environments. We know where problems hide, what they look like before they become critical, and exactly what needs to change.
Every finding in your report is specific, prioritised and written by the senior DBA who carried out the review. Their opinion, their words, their recommendation.
Your report
See what's included
Performance and query optimisation
We identify your most expensive queries, blocking issues, index problems and configuration gaps. We show you what to change and why.
Security and resillience
We check Defender for SQL, backup policies, recovery objectives and HA/DR configuration. The things that matter most when something goes wrong.
Cost and cloud optimisation
We review your instance sizing, reservation coverage and architecture to find savings, including opportunities you may not know exist.
Platform configuration
We review MAXDOP, parallelism settings, compatibility levels, maintenance routines and autogrow settings. The defaults that quietly cause problems at scale.
How it works
Simple from start to finish
No lengthy onboarding. No surprises. You get answers quickly.
1
Discovery call
We listen to your concerns and agree the scope of the review.
2
Secure access
We request read-only remote access. Nothing is changed during the review.
3
The assessment
2 to 3 days of hands-on analysis by a senior engineer.
4
Your report
A written report with all findings classified by priority.
5
Walkthrough call
The engineer who wrote it talks you through every finding.
It starts with a conversation
Book your discovery call
No commitment ebyond the call. We’ll listen, tell you what we think and let you decide..
30 minutes. No hard sell.
Fixed fee confirmed before any work begins.
Read-only access. Nothinas changed during the review.
Report is yours to keep regardless of what happens next.
Who you'll work with
The SQL Server experts behind every review
Joe Pollock
Head of Managed Services, Cloud Rede
With 25 years of hands-on SQL Server and Azure experience, Joe has built his career going deep on performance tuning and cost optimisation. A Microsoft Certified Trainer, Azure Database Administrator and AWS Solutions Architect, he has shared his expertise at conferences and SQL Server user groups across the country. At Cloud Rede he leads managed services delivery, bringing the same technical rigour to every client platform he touches.
"XXXXWe're not a support desk you log tickets with. We're on calls with our customers 2 or 3 times a week. We know our clients' platforms like we built them ourselves."
Frequently Asked Questions
Here's what people usually ask us
We’ll always give you a straight answer, even if it means telling you we’re not the right fit.
What makes this different from an automated health check?
Tools like Azure Advisor and AWS Trusted Advisor are useful starting points. They surface common issues and flag known risks. But they are generic by design. They do not know your business, your history or what is actually driving the problem. Our Platform Review is carried out by a senior engineer who listens to your concerns first, understands the context and then looks at your environment with an expert eye. The output is not a list of automated recommendations. It is a specific, prioritised assessment written by the person who carried out the review.
What happens on the discovery call?
We take the time to understand what is actually driving the problem and where the real pressure sits. We do not jump straight to tools or assumptions. The call shapes the review so it is focused on what matters most to you. Whether that is cost reduction, platform stability, a migration you are planning or simply wanting to know where things stand.
How actionable are the recommendations?
Every finding comes with a specific recommendation. Not a broad observation that leaves you with more questions than answers. We tell you what to do, how to do it and why it matters. Where there are options, we lay them out clearly and give you our honest view on which direction makes most sense for your situation.
Do we need to commit to anything after the review?
No. The report is yours to keep and act on regardless of what happens next. You can take the recommendations away and action them yourself, pass them to another team or use them as the basis for a conversation about further work with us. We are transparent about the fact that our goal is to build long-term partnerships, but only if it is the right fit for both sides. If we cannot add enough value to put a big grin on your face, we will not try to sell you something.
Is it safe for our production systems?
Yes. We use read-only access throughout. Nothing is changed, modified or deployed during the review. We operate under a data processing agreement that is fully compatible with GDPR and we sign an NDA before any work begins. We are also a pre-approved supplier on the Financial Supplier Qualification System (FSQS), so if you need to verify our credentials before engaging us, that process is straightforward.
What platforms and environments do you cover?
We specialise in Microsoft SQL Server across AWS, Azure and on-premises environments, including SQL Managed Instance, SQL Server on EC2 and hybrid setups. If you are running a multi-cloud or mixed environment we are well placed to help. As an AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner and Microsoft Solutions Partner for Data and AI (Azure), we hold deep expertise across both platforms and bring that directly to every review we carry out.
How is the report delivered?
You receive a written PDF report with all findings classified as High Priority, Medium Priority or Best Practice. So you always know what to address first. Once the report is ready we schedule a walkthrough call where the DBA who carried out the review talks you through every finding and answers any questions. You will not need another consultant to interpret it.
