Free SQL Server Compliance Benchmark Tool
Free SQL Server Compliance Benchmark Tool automatically checks SQL Server security and configuration against established best practices.
What Free SQL Server Compliance Benchmark Tool is
Free SQL Server Compliance Benchmark Tool automatically checks SQL Server security and configuration against established best practices. It covers on-premises SQL Server installations and Azure SQL Managed Instances, with more than 80 checks across platform configuration, surface area reduction, authentication, encryption and auditing. The tool can generate its SQL Server Security Compliance Benchmark output as a PDF and uses core capabilities from the XIA Configuration compliance benchmarking platform. It also offers a trial of SQL Server documentation functionality found in XIA Configuration Express. The free tool is listed as free. To request it, users must provide a full name and business email address. It runs on Windows and is described for hybrid deployment, with cloud databases and compliance templates supported. CENTREL, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, says it applies administrative, operational and technical controls to protect customer data. Its technical support staff are based in the UK; remote support requires explicit consent and does not retain persistent access.
Good
- More than 80 checks across five security areas.
- Covers on-premises SQL Server and Azure SQL Managed Instances.
- Generates benchmark output in PDF format.
- Free tool includes a documentation-functionality trial.
Watch out
- Requests require a full name and business email address.
- Documentation functionality is offered as a trial.
Who it suits
It suits IT professionals assessing on-premises SQL Server or Azure SQL Managed Instances against established security practices. CENTREL also identifies educational institutions, government bodies and enterprises among users of its tools.
Verdict
This is a focused free option for checking SQL Server configuration and security against established practices. Its PDF output and broad set of checks make the results available for review, while documentation functionality is only a trial.
Plans and prices
From Free SQL Server Compliance Benchmark Tool's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free SQL Server Compliance Benchmark Tool | Free | Free tool; over 80 checks; PDF benchmark output; SQL Server documentation available as a trial |
The facts
Each one read from Free SQL Server Compliance Benchmark Tool's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Associated platform
- The tool uses core capabilities of the XIA Configuration compliance benchmarking platform.checked 7 Oct 2026
What it does
- Benchmark basis
- The benchmark evaluates platform and security settings against established best practices.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Coverage
- It includes more than 80 checks across platform configuration, surface area reduction, authentication, encryption, and auditing.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Output
- The tool can generate the SQL Server Security Compliance Benchmark output in PDF format.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- The tool automatically assesses SQL Server security and configuration against best practices for on-premises SQL Server and Azure SQL Managed Instances.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Remote support
- Remote support uses tools such as TeamViewer and Microsoft Teams, requires the customer's explicit consent, and ends without persistent access retained.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Request requirement
- The request form asks for a full name and business email address.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- CENTREL says its technical support staff are based in the United Kingdom and support is not outsourced offshore or to third parties.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Supported target
- The stated SQL targets are on-premises SQL Server installations and Azure SQL Managed Instances.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Who it is for
- CENTREL says its software is built to simplify workflows for IT professionals, and that educational institutions, government bodies, and enterprises worldwide use its tools.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Company security
- CENTREL says it applies administrative, operational, and technical security controls to help protect customer data.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2008checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Oxford, United Kingdomchecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Documentation trial
- The free tool can trial SQL Server documentation functionality found in XIA Configuration Express.checked 7 Oct 2026
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