/ Michael D Spain

Michael D Spain

Phot of Michael D Spain

Michael D Spain

Michael D Spain is a seasoned database administrator with over 15 years of experience in IT, specializing in SQL Server, PowerShell, and database performance optimization. Despite starting his career as a musician and music teacher for 12 years, Michael transitioned into IT in 2010 after learning SQL. He quickly excelled, becoming a SQL Server DBA and eventually a Principal DBA, focusing on large enterprise environments, HADR, and RTO/RPO planning. Michael is currently a member of the Customer Success Engineering team at SolarWinds, where he helps customers maximize the performance of their database products. His approach to IT is grounded in the "people, process, and tools" framework, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and effective team dynamics. Even in land-locked Dallas, TX, Michael remains a passionate surfer, with his longboard always ready for the next adventure.

The Latest Posts Featuring Michael D Spain

Inside the Black Box: Bridging the Database Observability Gap
March 27, 2026
Database

Over the past 15 years, Agile and DevOps have accelerated application delivery, enabling faster, more reliable releases. Yet the database layer often remains a blind spot for observability and performance monitoring.

In this article, Kevin Kline shows why closing the database observability gap is critical to improving performance, efficiency, and resilience for DBAs, developers, and the businesses that depend on their data.