Find Out What Your Database Is Really Costing You
Most businesses running SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or MySQL have years of accumulated technical debt — slow queries nobody has investigated, cloud costs nobody can explain, and security gaps nobody has reviewed. We spend 5–7 days working through your live environment and deliver a plain-English report that tells you exactly what to fix and why.
Could Your Database Be Costing You More Than You Think?
Application slowdowns, spiralling cloud bills, and missed security risks all trace back to database issues that were never reviewed. They build up silently — until they become expensive.
of application performance problems trace directly to unoptimized database queries — slow queries that no one has ever investigated because the app "mostly works".
more than necessary — that's what businesses typically pay to run databases in the cloud when they haven't been right-sized or optimized since initial setup.
of accumulated technical debt in the average SMB database — indexes never reviewed, permissions never tightened, backups never tested. Most have never had a formal assessment.
What Does the Database Assessment Report Include?
Not a raw query plan. Not a tool-generated scan. A plain-English report written by a senior database engineer who understands the difference between what's urgent and what can wait.
Performance Bottleneck Analysis
Every slow query identified, ranked by business impact, and explained in plain English. We separate the ones causing customer-facing latency from the ones running quietly at 2am — so you know what to fix first.
Cloud Cost Audit
We audit your AWS RDS, Azure SQL, or Cloud SQL configuration against your actual usage patterns. We identify over-provisioned instances, wasted storage, and licensing choices that are quietly inflating your monthly bill.
Security & Permissions Review
Over-privileged accounts, exposed ports, unencrypted columns, missing audit trails, and backup policies that have never been tested. We check every layer and flag what needs fixing before it becomes an incident.
Prioritised Remediation Checklist
Every finding is ranked by urgency and business impact — not just technical severity. You get a clear action list: what to fix this week, what to plan for next quarter, and what to monitor. Written so your team can act on it without us in the room.
From enquiry to written report in under two weeks
No lengthy onboarding. No guesswork. A structured process with fixed deliverables at each step.
- 1
Tell us about your setup
Get in touch via our contact page. Tell us a few brief details about your database environment, what's causing pain, and your goals. We review your situation and confirm a fixed price within 24 hours.
- 2
We get read-only access
You grant us read-only credentials. We never modify your data or schema. An NDA is available before this step if needed. Access is logged and revoked immediately on completion.
- 3
Expert review of your live environment
A senior database engineer works through your environment using industry-standard tooling and hands-on review. This is not an automated scanner — every finding is assessed in context of your actual business.
- 4
Written report delivered in 5–7 days
You receive a structured report covering performance, cost, security, and schema health — with every finding ranked by business impact and a clear remediation checklist. We walk you through the key findings on a 30-minute call.
Fixed price. Confirmed before we start.
Every database environment is different. We review your setup and confirm a fixed price within 24 hours of your enquiry — before any work begins. No surprises, no scope creep.
Single Database
One database, one environment.
- Performance + index review
- Security & permissions check
- Written report + checklist
- 30-min findings call
Cloud + On-Prem
Mixed or cloud-hosted environments.
- Everything in Single Database
- Cloud cost & configuration audit
- Right-sizing recommendations
- Migration readiness assessment
- 30-min findings call
Multi-Database / Complex
Multiple databases or high-complexity environments.
- Everything in Cloud + On-Prem
- Multiple databases assessed
- Schema and architecture review
- Priority remediation roadmap
Not sure which applies? Get in touch and describe your environment — we'll confirm the right tier and price within 24 hours.
The assessment is standalone — but most clients go further
There's no obligation after the report. Many clients use it to fix things themselves. Others engage us to carry out the work. Here's what that typically looks like.
SQL Server Migration
If the assessment reveals a migration is the right call — to PostgreSQL, cloud-hosted SQL, or modern infrastructure — we plan and execute it with zero data loss. Fixed-price, scoped from your assessment findings.
AWS Right-Sizing
If your cloud costs are higher than they should be, we implement the changes that actually move the needle — instance resizing, storage reconfiguration, reserved capacity recommendations — and track the savings.
Ongoing DB Management
If you need a database engineer on-call without hiring one full-time, we offer monthly retainers — performance monitoring, patch management, query optimisation, and incident response. Priced per your environment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to give you access to my database?
Yes — read-only access only. We never modify your data or schema. All access is strictly controlled, logged, and revoked immediately on completion. An NDA is available before work begins if you need it.
How long does the assessment take?
Typically 5–7 business days from when we receive access and all the context we need. We'll confirm the timeline exactly when we scope your assessment.
What databases do you assess?
SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MariaDB — on-premises, cloud-hosted (AWS RDS, Azure SQL, Cloud SQL), or hybrid environments. Not sure if yours qualifies? Get in touch and ask.
What does a database assessment cost?
Fixed price from £500, confirmed before work begins. Most assessments fall between £500 and £2,000 depending on complexity and number of databases. You agree to the price before we start — no surprises.
What happens after the assessment?
You receive the written report and we walk you through it on a 30-minute call. There's no obligation after that. Many clients use the report to fix things themselves. Others engage us to carry out the work — migration, right-sizing, or ongoing management. Entirely your call.
Is my data kept confidential?
Absolutely. We sign an NDA on request before any work begins. We operate with read-only access, retain no data, and revoke access immediately on completion.
Also from Ciatel Corp: AI Agents & Automation — automate the manual work your team does every day, from £1,500 →
Ready to Find Out What Your Database Is Costing You?
Get in touch and tell us about your setup. We'll confirm scope and a fixed price within 24 hours — no commitment required.
Contact Us