How to Track Database Changes in SQL Server? – Who Modified the Data?
What to do if database has encountered some changes? How to track database changes in SQL server?
The write-up is created in context to answer how one can find out what and who has made changes in the database. SQL server is used by various organizations and a few of them have faced some challenges such as data being modified, changed, or deleted without them knowing.
This can happen due to the cyber-crimes such as hacking, or a former employee making changes in the database. These crimes can lead to data loss causing financial crisis and loss of trust of users which has shut many companies down.
That is why users want to track changes in database SQL server but have no clue on how to do so. There is a plethora of methods that can be used but all of them are technically inclined making them not so suitable for novice users.
To solve this query, you have to check your transactions and analyze them for all the changes that have been made and are out of your knowledge. We have one sure shot solution that will help you get all the required details without any troubles and from both offline & online databases.
Let’s get started with this solution.
How to Track Database Changes in SQL Server Without Any Hassles?
The solution to be used for checking the changes made in the database is the SQL Log File Analyzer tool. The software completely analysis the log files to identify all the critical changes made in the record files. It will give the details about who made changes in the table records making it the most useful feature of the tool.
This tool can fetch and view the records from the Live SQL database environment as well as works on both Offline and Online Database environments. Other than that, this tool to track changes in database SQL server has the power to export selective transactions only.
It can also auto-locate the MDF files to check out the schema of scanned files during the Offline Database analysis. There are a number of features provided by this tool that can be used by a user for check out what changes have been made.
We will take a look at the features that provide benefit to the users but before that, let’s go through the working steps.
What Are the Working Instructions of the Software to Track Changes?
Following are the steps to learn how to track database changes in SQL server:
1. Once you download the software, launch it and click on the Open button to insert the file(s) in the software panel.
2. Choose the Online Database option and enter the Server Name and the Authentication Type. Click on the OK button to move further.
3. After that, choose the table records you want to analyze and click on the Export button.
4. Here, mark the Insert, Update & Delete options or one of these and apply the Date-Filter for selective data exportation.
5. To track changes in database SQL server, select the Export To/As option and enter the information required in the Database Credentials fields.
6. Pick the destination location by choosing between Create New Database or Export to Existing Database and hit Export.
These are the simple steps that need to be followed during the analysis. The software offers 3 options in the Export To/As field i.e. SQL Server Database, SQL Server Compatible SQL Scripts, and CSV. Also, the Date-Filter allows users to set dates from and to, for selecting a time-range from which the data will be exported by the software.
Benefits of Tool to Answer How to Track Database Changes in SQL Server
1. Analyze the Table Records
The software allows users to check the transaction files and read the entire log activity in the server database. This activity includes the Transaction Name, Transaction Time, Login Name, Query, and Table Name since all of this is saved by the server.
2. Various Export Options
During the process to export the database, the tool offers three export options that are under the Export To/As field:
- Option to export as SQL Server Database
- Compatible SQL Scripts
- CSV File format
3. Selectively Export Tables
There is an option given to the users who want to track changes in database SQL server selectively by which they can mark and unmark the table records to save chosen data only. You can also apply the Date-Filter to set a time-zone for selectively saving the transactions.
4. Supports Advanced Data
Other than the basic data types of the SQL server, the software supports the advanced data types of SQL server as well. These data types are Datetime2, datetimeoffset, sql_variant, geometry, hierarchyid, and geography. These are used for forensics of SQL server 2019 and all the lower versions.
Ending With a Note
The reasons to learn how to track database changes in SQL server are the changes being made in the transaction logs without being in knowledge of its respective user. This can lead to heavy losses of data and then becomes a financial crises for some companies.
There are various solutions but with technical expertise required becoming not so suitable a choice for all the users. This software is the perfect solution for both the users with technical knowledge and non-techie since the user-interface is pretty easy-to-understand.