A client sends a first message (such as a stored procedure function call) to a server relational database identifying notifications concerning database access related events of interest. Responsive to this first message, logic within the server relational database monitors instances of database accesses, determines whether any of those accesses relate to events of interest, and then stores those determined events. The client also sends a second message (such as blocking stored procedure function call) requesting that it be notified of any stored events of interest. Responsive to this second message, the logic within the server relational database checks to see whether any events have been stored, sends a notification message containing an identification of those stored events to the client, and then clears the stored events. These notifications concerning external events of interest may then be processed by a service management application executed within the client.