SQL Server Monitoring Is Not Diagnosis: Why Context Matters

This article discusses the common misconception that SQL Server monitoring equals diagnosis. While dashboards and alerts provide visibility into metrics like CPU usage, storage latency, blocking, and query performance, they often lack the context needed to determine root causes. The author argues that a red signal (e.g., high CPU) creates urgency but not direction, and teams risk misinterpreting symptoms as explanations. Real-world examples show how the same metric can have multiple underlying causes, making context essential for effective troubleshooting and business impact. Aimed at IT professionals, DBAs, and engineers, the piece emphasizes that monitoring is a starting point, not an endpoint.