Most security experts' recommendations include changing passwords frequently to enhance security. It is easy to change the password on a SQL Server Username via Query Analyzer. Changing the password with Query Analyzer makes it easy to coordinate changing the password on the database server at the same time as it is changed in the connection string. This approach provides the flexibility to change the password at the most appropriate time for the application.

Every time I have to perform some major work on my production SQL Server clusters, I spend a lot of time researching and planning the task at hand. And when it comes to something as big as an upgrade from a SQL Server 7.0 Cluster to a SQL Server 2000 cluster, I even spend more time than usual. I can't afford for mistakes on a server that needs to be up 24/7.