If you think that databases need regular backup and restoration then you are not alone. First, let’s face it; nobody likes to lose data… But this happens too often to the best of us. Let me share with you some tips on how you can avoid falling into common pitfalls. I’ll start with the benefits of database backups, early warning signs of trouble ahead, types of backups available, and finally free online tools to help with your testing efforts (my favorite is Restore Oracle). If after reading this article you feel like screaming “I want my Data Back” then please check out one of our most popular posts: Backup & Recovery Differentiation. This post answers all important questions regarding the differences between Database Backup and Data Recovery techniques.
In a Hurry? See the TOP 8 reasons for backing up your Databases below.
1) You can reduce downtime and data loss incidents by applying regular database backups. In the event of a system crash, operator error, bug in a program or any other kind of problem you will be able to recover quickly (or at least try to).
2) Regular database backup is required to meet your organization’s SLA (Service Level Agreement). If you don’t have one then I strongly suggest that you contact your DBA (Database Administrator) team right away; create an SLA based on their RPO (Recovery Point Objective) and RTO (Recovery Time Objective).
3) Experimentation is useful but it can get out of hand if done on a production system. Take for example the case of a developer who accidentally emptied the Recycle Bin, resulting in lost data from his development environment. You can avoid such incidents if you have a solid backup and recovery plan as part of your disaster recovery strategy.
4) If it is not tested, then you shouldn’t trust it! Make sure that your backups are being tested each month by restoring them to a test database where you can verify their validity and re-create any problems that occurred on your primary database(s). Remember – practice makes perfect!
5) Its always better to be safe than sorry. Regular backups ensure that downtime will be minimized should something go wrong with the production system. In simple English: If you have a backup, you’ll be able to go home on time!
6) Most new databases follow the 3-2-1 rule. This means that you should have at least three production copies of your data, stored on two different devices with one copy being offsite. So how does this apply to backups? Well, if your database is being backed up regularly then you are already well on your way to following the 3-2-1 rule. For instance, consider having a high availability environment where your configuration files are backed up daily and copied to another server for storage. You can also increase the number of offsite copies by using an online data backup service provider. Aside from protecting your organization’s data against local disasters, they may also offer other business continuity advantages such as real-time replication.
7) Regular backups allow you to restore individual tables, schemas or even entire databases without resorting to Data Recovery (which is time-consuming and requires downtime). You may be able to avoid the need for Data Recovery by taking regular backups of your system; however, there are other cases where this solution will not apply. For instance; if the damaged data cannot be read or written (inaccessible) then you should use a logical backup instead. Attempting to recover inaccessible data with an image-based backup would render it useless which is why image-based backups are almost always used in conjunction with Logical Backups. The rule here is simple: take both types of backups – image-based and logical – to ensure that you can read your data at some point.
8) Backups are not only useful in the event of a disaster; they are also great for trying out new things without compromising your production environment. For example, you might want to use advanced query techniques but aren’t sure if they will work as expected. You can always try them out on test databases where not only is the risk of causing problems minimal, but you’ll have full control over what gets changed or deleted. If the risk is too high then simply restore your original backup instead of taking another one!
Conclusion:
The objective of this article is to bring awareness about regular backups and backup testing. I strongly recommend that you take regular backups of your databases using one of the many available options, whether it is a commercial or open-source solution. If you are looking for the best way to protect your data then look no further than an online data backup service provider.
Lastly, make sure that you take your backups seriously by performing tests at least once every month – preferably before the end of each quarter! This will give you valuable insight into potential issues with your existing technology stack which in turn may lead to future improvements. As long as these tests don’t affect any production systems then there should be no compromises made on their behalf.
