PostgreSQL 17: Optimizing Performance & Security
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PostgreSQL 17: Optimizing Performance & Security
This course is part of Mastering PostgreSQL 17 Specialization
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Recommended experience
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What you'll learn
Deploy and manage PostgreSQL in production environments
Get to grips with handling redundancy and data safety
Secure PostgreSQL with encryption and access controls
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
May 2026
4 assignments
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There are 4 modules in this course
This course focuses on enhancing the performance and security of PostgreSQL 17. Learners will gain in-depth knowledge of optimizing queries, writing efficient stored procedures, and securing PostgreSQL databases. Mastering these strategies is crucial in the professional world, especially for database administrators, developers, and security experts.
By diving into system logs and query optimization, you'll learn to troubleshoot and fine-tune your PostgreSQL setup, ensuring high performance and scalability. This hands-on course will help you create more secure, faster, and more efficient PostgreSQL databases. What sets this course apart is its combination of both theoretical knowledge and practical applications, with real-world examples to reinforce the concepts. You'll be equipped with tools that can be directly applied to your work environment. This course is part two of a three-course Specialization designed to provide a comprehensive learning pathway in this subject area. While it delivers standalone value and practical skills, learners seeking a more integrated and in-depth progression may benefit from completing the full Specialization.
This module explores how to monitor and analyze PostgreSQL databases using system statistics and log files. Learners will discover how to inspect database activity, evaluate table and index performance, and configure effective logging for troubleshooting and optimization. By the end, you'll be equipped to maintain database health and diagnose issues using PostgreSQL's built-in tools.
What's included
1 video8 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Overviewβ’1 minute
8 readingsβ’Total 48 minutes
- Introductionβ’7 minutes
- Inspecting Databasesβ’5 minutes
- Inspecting Tablesβ’5 minutes
- Digging into Indexesβ’5 minutes
- Tracking, Archiving, and Streamingβ’6 minutes
- Inspecting Transactions in Real Timeβ’4 minutes
- Using pg_stat_statementsβ’7 minutes
- Creating Log Filesβ’9 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 16 minutes
- PostgreSQL Log Files and System Statisticsβ’16 minutes
This module explores advanced techniques for improving PostgreSQL query performance, including reading and interpreting execution plans, optimizing joins, and leveraging parallelism. Learners will gain practical skills in diagnosing performance bottlenecks, adjusting system parameters, and applying partitioning strategies to large datasets.
What's included
1 video16 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Overviewβ’1 minute
16 readingsβ’Total 89 minutes
- Introductionβ’6 minutes
- Applying Transformationsβ’6 minutes
- Making the Process Failβ’6 minutes
- Introducing Join Pruningβ’5 minutes
- Approaching Plans Systematicallyβ’5 minutes
- Inspecting Estimatesβ’3 minutes
- Inspecting Buffer Usageβ’5 minutes
- Getting Joins Rightβ’6 minutes
- Enabling and Disabling Optimizer Settingsβ’4 minutes
- Understanding Genetic Query Optimizationβ’9 minutes
- Modifying Inherited Structuresβ’5 minutes
- Using Range Partitioningβ’6 minutes
- Adjusting Parameters for Good Query Performanceβ’5 minutes
- Speeding Up Sortingβ’6 minutes
- Making Use of Parallel Queriesβ’6 minutes
- Parallelism in Practiceβ’6 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 16 minutes
- Optimizing Database Query Performanceβ’16 minutes
This module explores the creation and optimization of stored procedures in PostgreSQL, including language options, flow control, variable scope, and advanced data handling techniques. Learners will gain practical skills in writing efficient procedures using PL/pgSQL, PL/Python, and other supported languages, while addressing challenges such as quoting, security, and large data sets.
What's included
1 video11 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Overviewβ’1 minute
11 readingsβ’Total 64 minutes
- Introductionβ’7 minutes
- Introducing Dollar Quotingβ’5 minutes
- Exploring Various Stored Procedure Languagesβ’6 minutes
- Loops and Flow Controlβ’6 minutes
- Managing Scopesβ’5 minutes
- Using Cursors to Fetch Data in Chunksβ’5 minutes
- Utilizing Composite Typesβ’8 minutes
- Writing Stored Procedures in PL/pgSQLβ’5 minutes
- Making Use of the SPI Interfaceβ’6 minutes
- Introducing PL/Pythonβ’5 minutes
- Improving Functionsβ’6 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 16 minutes
- Exploring Stored Procedures and Database Constructsβ’16 minutes
This module explores essential PostgreSQL security practices, including configuring authentication, managing user roles, and setting permissions at various levels. Learners will gain hands-on experience with tools like pg_hba.conf, and learn to implement security controls from network access to row-level restrictions. By the end, you'll be able to inspect, modify, and audit security settings to protect your PostgreSQL databases.
What's included
1 video11 readings1 assignment
1 videoβ’Total 1 minute
- Overviewβ’1 minute
11 readingsβ’Total 55 minutes
- Introductionβ’5 minutes
- Living in a World Without TCPβ’4 minutes
- Managing the pg_hba.conf Fileβ’5 minutes
- Inspecting the Content of pg_hba.conf via SQLβ’4 minutes
- Handling Instance-Level Securityβ’6 minutes
- Creating and Modifying Usersβ’3 minutes
- Defining Database-Level Securityβ’6 minutes
- PostgreSQL 15 and Beyondβ’5 minutes
- Handling Column-Level Securityβ’4 minutes
- Digging into Row-Level Securityβ’7 minutes
- Inspecting and Handling Permissionsβ’6 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 16 minutes
- PostgreSQL Security Fundamentalsβ’16 minutes
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can preview the first video and view the syllabus before you enroll. You must purchase the course to access content not included in the preview.
If you decide to enroll in the course before the session start date, you will have access to all of the lecture videos and readings for the course. Youβll be able to submit assignments once the session starts.
Once you enroll and your session begins, you will have access to all videos and other resources, including reading items and the course discussion forum. Youβll be able to view and submit practice assessments, and complete required graded assignments to earn a grade and a Course Certificate.
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