What are the best SQL Server database recovery strategies to prevent data loss?

1 Backup your data regularly

The first and most important step in any database recovery strategy is to backup your data regularly and consistently. A backup is a copy of your database that you can use to restore your data in case of data loss or corruption. SQL Server offers several types of backups, such as full, differential, transaction log, filegroup, and partial backups, each with different advantages and disadvantages. You should choose the backup type that suits your recovery objectives, such as how much data you can afford to lose, how fast you need to restore your data, and how much storage space you have. You should also schedule your backups to run automatically at appropriate intervals, and test them periodically to ensure that they are valid and usable.

3 Use the right restore method

The restore method is the process of applying the backups to your database to recover your data. SQL Server offers several restore methods, such as complete, point-in-time, piecemeal, and tail-log restores, each with different purposes and outcomes. You should use the restore method that meets your recovery goals, such as how much data you want to recover, how much time you have to perform the restore, and how much data loss you can tolerate. You should also follow the correct restore sequence, depending on the type and order of the backups that you have. For example, if you have a full backup, a differential backup, and a series of transaction log backups, you should first restore the full backup with the NORECOVERY option, then restore the differential backup with the NORECOVERY option, and then restore the transaction log backups with the RECOVERY option.

4 Use the built-in tools and features

SQL Server provides several built-in tools and features to assist with your database recovery strategy. For example, the Backup and Restore Wizard is a graphical user interface that helps you create and restore backups, and allows you to configure various options and settings. SQL Server Management Studio is an integrated environment that enables you to manage and administer your databases, as well as perform backup and restore operations with graphical or script commands. Additionally, SQL Server Agent is a service that can be used to schedule and automate tasks such as running backups, checking database integrity, and sending notifications. Database Snapshots are read-only copies of your database that capture the state of your data at a certain point in time, which can be used to revert your database to a previous state in case of data loss or corruption. Lastly, DBCC CHECKDB is a command that checks the logical and physical consistency of your database, while also detecting and repairing any errors or corruption.

5 Plan for disaster recovery

Disaster recovery is the process of restoring your database operations after a catastrophic event, such as a fire, flood, or earthquake, that damages or destroys your data center or server. Disaster recovery requires more than just backup and restore, as it involves preparing for the worst-case scenario, and ensuring that you have a backup site, a backup system, and a backup network that can resume your database functionality as soon as possible. You should have a disaster recovery plan that outlines the roles and responsibilities of your team, the steps and procedures to follow, the resources and equipment to use, and the testing and evaluation methods to verify. You should also review and update your disaster recovery plan regularly, and conduct drills and simulations to ensure that it works as expected.