How to resolve Sprinto check for monitoring Azure SQL DB Memory Utilization

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Sprinto Check: Azure SQL database memory utilization monitored

Sprinto raises this check when your Azure SQL Database instance does not have an active alert configured to monitor memory utilization. Monitoring memory usage ensures database performance, prevents resource exhaustion, and helps identify under- or over-provisioned instances.

This article provides step-by-step instructions to configure a metric-based alert in Azure Monitor that tracks SQL Database memory utilization using the correct metric — SQL instance memory percent.

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Before You Begin

Ensure that you:

• Have Contributor or Owner access to your Azure subscription.

• Have access to Azure Monitor and Metrics for the relevant SQL Database.

• Know the resource group and database name to which the alert applies.

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Steps to Resolve

Step 1 – Log in to the Azure Portal

1. Go to portal.azure.com.

2. Log in with your Azure credentials.

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Step 2 – Open the SQL Database Resource

1. Navigate to the SQL Database resource you want to monitor.

2. In the left-hand menu, under Monitoring, click Metrics.

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Step 3 – Select the Correct Metric

1. In the Metrics pane, click on the Metric name dropdown.

2. From the list, select: Metric Name: SQL instance memory percent

3. This metric measures the percentage of memory used by the SQL instance and accurately represents memory utilization.

Important: Previous documentation referenced “Data space used percent”, which measures storage utilization, not memory usage. Please ensure you select the correct metric to avoid false negatives.

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Step 4 – Create a New Alert Rule

1. From the top of the page, click New alert rule.

1. On the Create an alert rule page:

   • Under Condition, verify that SQL instance memory percent is selected.

   • Choose the Aggregation type (commonly Average).

   • Set a Threshold value appropriate for your environment (for example, 80%).

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Step 5 – Define Alert Details

1. Navigate to the Details tab.

2. Enter an appropriate Alert rule name, for example: Azure SQL DB Memory Utilization.

3. Add an optional description if desired.

4. Click Review + Create → Create to finalise the alert.

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Evidence Requirements

Provide one or more of the following as compliance evidence:

• Screenshot of the alert rule showing SQL instance memory percent as the metric.

• Alert notification screenshot or log event.

• Sprinto monitor screenshot showing Passing status.

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Evidence Requirements

As part of your compliance workflow, retain one or more of the following:

• Screenshot of the created alert rule (showing metric name and threshold).

• Copy of Azure Monitor notification email or alert log.

• Screenshot of the Sprinto monitor showing the Passing status.

Updated Metric Information

This article previously referenced the metric “Data space used percent”, which measures storage utilization rather than memory usage.

The correct metric for memory utilization is SQL instance memory percent. Sprinto’s backend logic has been updated to recognise this metric.

If your check does not pass immediately after creating the alert, this is expected. Sprinto’s monitors update after the next re-evaluation cycle. You can also manually trigger a re-eval from the Sprinto Monitor UI to refresh the status.

For backward compatibility, Sprinto continues to accept the previous metric temporarily, but new configurations should use SQL instance memory percent exclusively.

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Need Help?

If you face issues configuring the alert or your check does not pass after setup, contact Sprinto Support at [e-mail].