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

### About

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`.

***

### 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.

***

### Steps to Resolve

#### Step 1 – Log in to the Azure Portal

1. Go to [portal.azure.com](https://portal.azure.com).
2. Log in with your **Azure credentials**.

***

#### 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**.

<figure><img src="https://3220032727-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FEsyn5VMU6e0OyGjRtKgx%2Fuploads%2FCunU36X7R313R1iQO5ce%2Fcdkojzj7xULdhAYh-5tdfwx9E604IDfkwg.png?alt=media&#x26;token=2f235214-b9a4-424a-b48d-23a5a80001d3" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

#### 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**.<br>

{% hint style="warning" %}
**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.
{% endhint %}

***

#### Step 4 – Create a New Alert Rule

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

<figure><img src="https://3220032727-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FEsyn5VMU6e0OyGjRtKgx%2Fuploads%2FXNljfMu0ISnXxfeTBtkm%2FwwL5-IgSJUM3ghoFNqAaEdMbHmRMQDjvFQ.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ec2abc66-d982-4b58-863b-4b14d28d22b6" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. 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%**).

<figure><img src="https://3220032727-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FEsyn5VMU6e0OyGjRtKgx%2Fuploads%2FL5Oqzd5bRbxC1x7oKdlP%2F2gRxFZ1BDOFoN5OCYxItdNNDyzLkeF2Oew.png?alt=media&#x26;token=748764c4-b212-49ff-a972-3fc0bc701d15" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

#### 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.

<figure><img src="https://3220032727-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FEsyn5VMU6e0OyGjRtKgx%2Fuploads%2FNoGdLAG65qK4FS7i1qGp%2FBuH8Joa1u_63c2OzqhmfK2B0Eaq6pEbltw.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d97b568d-de50-4db9-955f-471a7e91871c" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

### 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.

***

### 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.

{% hint style="info" %}

#### 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.
{% endhint %}

***

### Need Help?

If you face issues configuring the alert or your check does not pass after setup, contact **Sprinto Support** at <support@sprinto.com>.
