SQL Server instances should have the `user options` database flag disabled

Description

It is recommended that the user options database flag for SQL Server instance not be configured.

Rationale

The user options flag specifies global defaults for all users. A list of default query processing options is established for the duration of a user’s work session. The user options flag allows you to change the default values of the SET options (if the server’s default settings are not appropriate).

A user can override these defaults by using the SET statement. You can configure user options dynamically for new logins. After you change the setting of user options, new login sessions use the new setting; current login sessions are not affected. This recommendation is applicable to SQL Server database instances.

Impact

In some instances, setting custom flags via the command line causes all omitted flags to be reset to their defaults. This might cause you to lose custom flags and could result in unforeseen complications or instance restarts. Because of this, it is recommended you apply these flag changes during a period of low usage.

Remediation

From the console

  1. Go to the Cloud SQL Instances page in the Google Cloud Console by visiting https://console.cloud.google.com/sql/instances.
  2. Select the SQL Server instance you want to configure.
  3. Click Edit.
  4. Scroll down to the Flags section.
  5. Click the X next to the user options flag shown
  6. Click Save to save your changes.
  7. Confirm your changes under Flags on the Overview page.

From the command line

  1. List all Cloud SQL database Instances:

    gcloud sql instances list

  2. Clear the user options database flag for every Cloud SQL SQL Server database instance using either of the below commands:

    • To clear all flags and reset them to their default values:

      gcloud sql instances patch <INSTANCE_NAME> --clear-database-flags

    • To clear only the user options database flag, re-enter all of database flags that you want to configure and exclude the user options flag and its value:

      gcloud sql instances patch <INSTANCE_NAME> --database-flags [FLAG1=VALUE1,FLAG2=VALUE2]

    Note: This command overwrites all database flags previously set. To keep those flags and add new ones, include the values for all flags you want set on the instance. Any flag not specifically included is set to its default value. For flags that do not take a value, specify the flag name followed by an equals sign ("=").

Default value

By default, ‘user options’ is not configured.

References

  1. https://cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/flags
  2. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/configure-windows/configure-the-user-options-server-configuration-option?view=sql-server-ver15
  3. https://www.stigviewer.com/stig/ms_sql_server_2016_instance/2018-03-09/finding/V-79335

Additional information

  • Some database flag settings can affect instance availability or stability, and remove the instance from the Cloud SQL SLA. For information about these flags, see Operational Guidelines.

  • Configuring the above flag does not restart the Cloud SQL instance.