How to BACKUP DATABASE in SQL Server

How do I run a full, differential, or log backup in SQL Server?

BACKUP DATABASE creates a copy of a SQL Server database or log to disk or tape so that it can be restored later.

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Description

Why should I back up my SQL Server database?

Backups protect against hardware failure, user errors, and ransomware. They let you restore the database to a specific point in time, keeping Customer, Order, and Product data safe.

What backup types does SQL Server support?

FULL captures the entire database; DIFFERENTIAL stores changes since the last full; LOG captures transaction log entries for point-in-time recovery.

How do I run a full backup quickly?

Use BACKUP DATABASE with the TO DISK clause. Add WITH COMPRESSION to cut file size and WITH STATS for progress.

BACKUP DATABASE EcommerceDB TO DISK = 'D:\Backups\EcommerceDB_full.bak' WITH COMPRESSION, STATS = 5;

Is it safe to back up while users are active?

Yes. BACKUP DATABASE is online and does not block reads or writes; it uses internal database snapshots.

How can I automate backups?

Create a SQL Agent job or use PowerShell’s Invoke-Sqlcmd. Schedule nightly full, hourly log, and daily differential backups.

How do I restore a backup?

Use RESTORE DATABASE. For point-in-time, restore the full, then differential, then logs WITH NORECOVERY, ending WITH RECOVERY.

Best practices for backup storage?

Write to local disk first for speed, then copy to off-site or cloud storage. Keep at least three copies in two locations.

Can I encrypt backups?

Yes. Use WITH ENCRYPTION and supply a certificate or asymmetric key to protect sensitive customer emails and order data.

Why How to BACKUP DATABASE in SQL Server is important

How to BACKUP DATABASE in SQL Server Example Usage


--Full backup of an ecommerce database
BACKUP DATABASE EcommerceDB
TO DISK = 'D:\Backups\EcommerceDB_2023_09_15.bak'
WITH COMPRESSION,
     MEDIANAME = 'Ecommerce_Full',
     NAME = 'EcommerceDB Full Backup 2023-09-15',
     STATS = 10;

How to BACKUP DATABASE in SQL Server Syntax


BACKUP DATABASE database_name
    TO { DISK | TAPE } = 'path\file.bak' [, ...]
    [WITH [DIFFERENTIAL] | [FORMAT] | [NOFORMAT]
          [, COPY_ONLY]
          [, COMPRESSION]
          [, ENCRYPTION (ALGORITHM = aes_256, SERVER CERTIFICATE = cert_name)]
          [, MEDIANAME = media_name]
          [, NAME = backup_name]
          [, STATS = percentage]
          [, INIT | NOINIT]
          [, SKIP] [, REWIND] [, NOUNLOAD]
    ];

Common Mistakes

Skipping transaction log backups in FULL recovery. This prevents point-in-time restores and makes the log file grow indefinitely. Fix by scheduling frequent BACKUP LOG statements.
Overwriting backup files with INIT unintentionally. Using WITH INIT erases previous backups on the media set. Fix by omitting INIT or moving each backup to a dated file.