Rebuilding Audit Table Indexes to Reduce Fragmentation
Audit tables usually grow very fast due to continuous insert operations. Over time, this can lead to index fragmentation, which negatively impacts query performance and increases CPU usage.
In this post, we will review the index maintenance performed on the [dbo].[xyztablename] table, including index rebuild, reorganize evaluation, and statistics update.
Why Index Maintenance Is Important
- Audit tables receive high-volume inserts
- Fragmentation increases over time
- Queries become slower if indexes are not maintained
- Regular maintenance improves overall database health
Step 1: Rebuild Index for Heavy Fragmentation
When index fragmentation exceeds recommended limits (generally above 30%), an INDEX REBUILD is the most effective solution.
ALTER INDEX ALL ON [dbo].[xyztablename] REBUILD;
Execution Details:
- Start Time: 09-Feb-2026 12:53 PM
- Duration: 23 minutes 19 seconds
Index rebuild removes fragmentation completely and also updates statistics automatically. However, it is resource-intensive and should be scheduled during low-traffic hours.
Step 2: Index Reorganize (Not Required)
Index reorganize is recommended only when fragmentation is moderate (between 5% and 30%). In this case, reorganize was not required.
ALTER INDEX ALL ON [dbo].[xyztablename] REORGANIZE;
Since the index rebuild already addressed the fragmentation, running reorganize would have been redundant.
Step 3: Update Statistics with FULLSCAN
To ensure SQL Server generates optimal execution plans, statistics were updated using a full data scan.
UPDATE STATISTICS [dbo].[xyztablename] WITH FULLSCAN;
Execution Details:
- Start Time: 09-Feb-2026 2:15 PM
- Scan Type: FULLSCAN
Maintenance Summary
| Task | Status |
|---|---|
| Index Rebuild | Completed |
| Index Reorganize | Not Required |
| Statistics Update | FULLSCAN Applied |
Best Practices
- Monitor index fragmentation regularly
- Use REBUILD for high fragmentation
- Use REORGANIZE only when needed
- Keep statistics updated for large tables
- Schedule maintenance during non-peak hours
Conclusion
Proper index and statistics maintenance ensures audit tables remain performant even as data grows. A well-planned maintenance window can prevent long-term performance issues and unexpected outages.
