System Administrator (sa) Login

Administering SQL Server

Administering SQL Server

System Administrator (sa) Login

System administrator (sa) is a special login provided for backward compatibility. By default, it is assigned to the sysadmin fixed server role and cannot be changed. Although sa is a built-in administrator login, do not use it routinely. Instead, make system administrators members of the sysadmin fixed server role, and have them log on using their own logins. Use sa only when there is no other way to log in to an instance of Microsoft® SQL Server™ (for example, when other system administrators are unavailable or have forgotten their passwords).

Note  When SQL Server is installed, SQL Server Setup prompts you to change the sa login password if you request Mixed Mode authentication. It is recommended that the password be assigned immediately to prevent unauthorized access to an instance of SQL Server using the sa login.

See Also

Assigning an sa Password