Performance tuning in Oracle Database often focuses on obvious areas like indexes, SQL rewrites etc. But some of the most impactful improvements can come from lesser known techniques. Here are 5 such tuning tricks that can make a real difference in production environments. Use SQL Plan Baselines to Stabilize Performance Even properly tuned queries in Oracle Database can suddenly degrade when execution plans change due to statistics refreshes or system upgrades. Using SQL Plan Baselines helps maintain stable and efficient execution plans, preventing unexpected performance regressions especially in highly changing workloads. SELECT * FROM DBA_SQL_PLAN_BASELINES; So, don’t just capture baselines, but periodically change them to allow the optimizer to adopt better plans when appropriate. Use Automatic Indexing Automatic Indexing is a useful feature in Oracle Database that can improve performance with minimal effort. It was introduced in Oracle Database 19c and enhance...
SQL injection is one of the most common security risks in database driven applications. Normally, protection is implemented in the application layer using input validation and parameterized queries. However this approach depends heavily on developers and code quality. The SQL Firewall feature in Oracle Database introduces a different approach by adding protection directly at the database layer. This allows the database itself to identify and block unauthorized or suspicious SQLs before they are executed. How SQL Firewall Works The SQL Firewall works by learning the normal SQL patterns used by an application and then allowing only those approved statements to run. Any new or unexpected SQL is treated as a potential threat and can be blocked. This is especially useful for production environments where code changes are difficult and applications that are exposed to the internet. By implementing security at the database level, organizations gain an additional defense layer without modi...