Securing SQL Server: Scan for Startup Procs

The Scan For Startup Procs feature in SQL Server allows you to specify a list of stored procedures that will be automatically executed whenever the database engine starts. This can be useful in certain scenarios, such as when you want to perform tasks such as restoring a database or performing maintenance tasks when the database engine starts.

“Scan for startup procs” is a configuration option in Microsoft SQL Server that determines whether the server should scan for and execute stored procedures that are marked as “startup procedures” when the server starts up.

A startup procedure is a stored procedure that is marked with the “startup” attribute, which indicates that it should be executed when the server starts up. Startup procedures can be used to perform various tasks, such as initializing database objects, populating lookup tables, or performing other tasks that need to be completed before the database is available to users.

However, the Scan For Startup Procs feature can also be a security risk if not properly managed. This is because it allows you to execute arbitrary stored procedures whenever the database engine starts, which can potentially be exploited by attackers.

To mitigate the security risks associated with the Scan For Startup Procs feature, it is important to carefully manage the permissions of users who are allowed to create and execute stored procedures that are specified in the startup procs list. This can be done by granting the necessary permissions only to trusted users, and by carefully reviewing and testing any stored procedures before they are added to the startup procs list.

The “Scan for startup procs” configuration option is located in the “Advanced” tab of the “Server Properties” window in SQL Server Management Studio. By default, this option is enabled, which means that the server will scan for and execute startup procedures when it starts up. If the option is disabled, the server will not scan for startup procedures, and they will not be executed.

In general, it is not a good idea to leave the “Scan for startup procs” option enabled, as it allows startup procedures to be executed automatically when the server starts up. This can help to ensure that the database is properly initialized and ready for use as soon as the server is available. However, there may be situations where it is necessary to disable this option, such as if there are performance issues related to the execution of startup procedures.

In addition, you can disable the Scan For Startup Procs feature if you do not need this feature. To do this, you can use the following T-SQL command:

EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;
RECONFIGURE;
EXEC sp_configure 'scan for startup procs', 0;
RECONFIGURE;

This command will disable the Scan For Startup Procs feature, which will prevent stored procedures from being automatically executed when the database engine starts.