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MS SQL Server DBA Checklist - High Availability - Backup
-- All production databases should be set to use the full recovery model. This way, you can create transaction log backups on a periodic basis.
-- Whenever possible, perform a daily full backup of all system and user databases.
-- For all production databases, perform regular transaction log backups, at least once an hour.
-- Perform full backups during periods of low user activity in order to minimize the impact of backups on users.
-- Periodically test backups to ensure that they are good and can be restored.
-- Backup first to disk, then move to tape or some other form of backup media.
-- Store backups offsite.
-- If using SQL Server column encryption, or SQL Server 2008 Transparent Data Encryption, be sure to backup the service master key, database master keys, and certificates.
-- If you find that backup times take longer than your backup window, or if backup file sizes are taking up too much space on your storage device, consider a third-party backup program, such as SQL Backup Pro. SQL Server 2008, Enterprise Edition, includes backup compression.
-- Document, step-by-step, the process to restore system and user databases onto the same, or a different server. You don’t want to be looking this information up during an emergency.
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