Standard Roles
The following standard server roles are available in every SQL Server:
| Fixed server-level role | Description |
| sysadmin | Members of the fixed server role sysadmin can perform any activity on the server. |
| serveradmin | Members of the fixed server role serveradmin can change server-wide configuration options and shut down the server. |
| securityadmin | Members of the fixed server role securityadmin can manage logins and their properties. They have the GRANT, DENY, and REVOKE permissions for server-level permissions. They also have the GRANT, DENY, and REVOKE permissions at the database level, provided they have access to a database. They can also reset passwords for SQL Server logins. ** Security note ** By being able to grant access to the database engine and configure user permissions, the security administrator can assign most server permissions. The securityadmin role must be treated as equivalent to the sysadmin role. |
| processadmin | Members of the fixed server role processadmin can terminate processes running in an instance of SQL Server. |
| setupadmin | Members of the fixed server role "setupadmin" can add and remove Transact-SQL statements on the linked server. (Using Management Studio requires membership in "sysadmin".) |
| bulkadmin | Members of the fixed server role bulkadmin can execute the BULK INSERT statement. |
| diskadmin | The fixed server role diskadmin is used to manage disk files. |
| dbcreator | Members of the fixed server role dbcreator can create, alter, drop, and restore any database. |
| public | Every SQL Server login belongs to the public server role. When a server principal has not been granted or denied specific permissions on a securable object, the user inherits the permissions granted to the public role on that object. Only assign public permissions to an object if it should be available to all users. You cannot change membership in "public". |
Special case: Creating the initial Q-Matrix™ database
For the initial database to be created, the user must in this case have the Microsoft SQL Server standard server role sysadmin.