SQL Backup Solutions – what do you use?

In the consulting world we come across many different backup and restore options for SQL Server with the different clients that we work with. Personally I am a big fan of the SQL Server backups using a combination of Full, Differential, and Log backups so that we can do a solid point in time restore when needed.

I also like to have a retention time of more than a few days. For instance if space allows to have a full week of log backups, perhaps a second week of just full and differential backups, and then some longer term backups of just the fulls. This allows for recovery in the event that something is lost or damaged and it is not discovered for a while. I don’t know how many times we have recovered data from an older backup during a database corruption repair, and that backup has saved the day.

When working with clients who are using a backup solution that I haven’t used before, my biggest concern will be who is going to do the restore when it is needed?

What I am interested in here is what backup solutions others are using besides the built in SQL Sever backups?

• What is the solution?
• How often do you back up?
• Have you successfully done a restore with that solution?
• Can you do a point in time restore at any time during the last several days (or longer)?
• Have you had an problems with that backup solution?

Please post a response to this blog post with the answers. After I get a number of results, I will tally some of the results and update this post.

Thanks, your input is appreciated
Steve Stedman

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