In this article, we are describing in detail about the benefits of SQL Server back up and restoration and also the strategies and considerations for backup of SQL servers and restoration. The SQL backup and restoration components provide some essential methods to safeguard the critical data which is stored in SQL databases. In order to minimize the risks of any data loss, one should ideally plan a proper backup and preservation of data on a regular basis and also restoration as and when needed.
A well-planned strategy for data backup and restoration will help you to protect your business against any data loss due to any reasons. The users can also test their data strategies by restoring a default set of data backups and also by trying to recover their database to respond to effectively in case of a disaster.
Along with local database storage and backup procedures, the addition of any local storage for backups and SQL server also supports data backups and restoration from services like Azure Blob Storage. For the database files which are stored using Blob storage, one has the option to use the Azure snapshots which could instantaneously back up data and ensure faster restores.
Why is the backup of data needed?
Backing up the SQL databases properly and running the test to restore the backup procedures from time to time and storing the copies of data backups in a secure, off-site location could protect you from any catastrophic loss of data. There is no better way than proper backup to protect your data. By ensuring valid database backups, one can easily recover it in case of any failures such as:
- Failure of media.
- User errors as dropping off a table by mistake or so.
- Any hardware or infrastructure failure, i.e., disk drive damage or permanent loss of database server or so.
- Natural calamities ending up in complete data loss. Using appropriate SQL Server Backup like Azure Blob storage services, the users can easily create some off-site data backup at a different location, which you can restore in case of a natural disaster in the on-premise locations of businesses.
Backup glossary
The data backup administrators need to know the basic terminology in order to handle the process well. Let’s explore a few of RemoteDBA.com commonly used terms.
- Backup
The process of copying data which can be restored and recovered if there is a failure. The database backups can also be used to restore a database copy to a new location too if needed.
- Backup devices
Tape or disk devices on to which the back up of SQL Server could be written and restored from. The backups of SQL Servers can also be stored on to services like Azure Blob Storage, and a simple URL can be used to locate the destination of the backup.
- Data backup
Backup of data in the entire database volume. There is also a partial backup of the selected set of data in the database and also file backup for particular files or filegroups.
- Differential backup
The process of data backup which is based on the latest set of complete backup of a particular database or file backup, which contains only the changed data from the base.
- Full backup
As discussed above, it is the complete data backup which contains end-to-end data store in a specific database or the complete filegroup and logs which help in recovering the data.
- Log backup
Backup of the transaction logs which include all the log records which weren’t backed up in previous sets of log backups in the full recovery model.
- Recover
To restore the database into a consistent and stable state as before. Recovery is made usually after a database crash or other forms of data losses.
- Recovery model
It’s a database property which helps control the maintenance of transaction logs on a given database. There are three primary recover models as:
- Simple recovery
- Full recovery
- Bulk-logged recovery.
It is the recovery model of a database which determines the backup, recovery, and restoration requirement of it.
- Restore
Restoration is a multi-phase process in which copies of log pages and data from the destined SQL backup is restored to a specified database. Further transactions are then rolled forward and logged into the backed up again.
- Strategies of backup and restoration
Backup and restoration of databases should be customized in a specific environment that should work with the available resources. For this, there should be a reliable and solid backup and restoration strategy. Such a strategy in place will help minimize any data loss and maximize the availability of data by considering your business needs in mind. Here are some strategies.
- Always place the database and its backups at different storage devices, so as to avoid any loss even if the device with database fails. Place these on different devices can also enhance I/O performance of backup writing and database production.
- A backup strategy also should have a separate backup and restore portions. The backup strategy further defines the type of backup, frequency, nature, and speed of the storage hardware. It is also essential to have a strategy for how the backups should be tested and where and how the backup media should be stored. Restoration portion of the strategy must define the administrators responsible for performing restoration and the restoration protocols to be maintained.
All backup and restoration operations should occur within the whole context of the recovery models. The recovery model is another database property which controls the process of managing the transaction log. The recovery model of a database further determines how
The recovery model of a database should also determine what backup types and restoration scenarios could be supported in the process. As a standard, a database may have a simple model for recovery or an alternate fully recovery process. Such a model should also be effectively supplemented by switching to bulk log recovery before applying any bulk operations. To strategize and plan your SQL database backup and recovery, get the support of an expert database consultant, who can audit your database requirements and suggest the best strategies for your purpose.
