Your DBAs need the best backup and recovery tools. What’s the right choice?

1 Backup types and methods

The first thing you need to determine is what type and method of backup you need for your databases. There are two main types of backup: full and incremental. A full backup copies all the data and log files in your database, while an incremental backup only copies the changes since the last backup. Full backups are more reliable and easier to restore, but they take longer and consume more storage space. Incremental backups are faster and more efficient, but they require more steps and dependencies to restore. You can also combine full and incremental backups to create a backup strategy that suits your recovery objectives.

The method of backup refers to how you perform the backup operation. There are three common methods: native, logical, and physical. A native backup uses the built-in tools and commands of your database management system (DBMS) to backup your data. A logical backup exports your data as SQL statements or other formats that can be imported into another database. A physical backup copies the raw files and blocks of your database at the operating system level. Native backups are the most compatible and consistent, but they may not support all the features and options of your DBMS. Logical backups are the most portable and flexible, but they may not capture all the metadata and dependencies of your data. Physical backups are the most comprehensive and efficient, but they may not be compatible with different platforms and versions of your DBMS.

You need to choose the backup type and method that best fit your database requirements, such as the recovery point objective (RPO), the recovery time objective (RTO), the backup frequency, the backup retention, and the backup verification.

2 Backup destinations and formats

The next thing you need to consider is where and how you store your backup files. There are many options for backup destinations, such as local disks, network shares, cloud storage, tape drives, or external devices. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, such as the speed, security, accessibility, scalability, and cost of the backup storage. You need to weigh these factors against your backup needs, such as the backup size, the backup duration, the backup encryption, the backup compression, and the backup redundancy.

The format of your backup files also matters, as it affects the quality and usability of your backup data. There are two main formats: proprietary and open. A proprietary format uses a specific encoding and structure that is unique to your backup tool or DBMS. An open format uses a standard encoding and structure that is widely supported by different tools and platforms. Proprietary formats are more optimized and integrated, but they may not be compatible with other systems and applications. Open formats are more interoperable and portable, but they may not support all the features and options of your backup tool or DBMS.

You need to choose the backup destination and format that best suit your backup goals, such as the backup integrity, the backup validation, the backup restoration, the backup migration, and the backup automation.

3 Backup tools and features

The last thing you need to evaluate is the backup tool itself and the features it offers. There are many backup tools available in the market, from free and open source to commercial and enterprise-grade. Each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, such as the functionality, reliability, usability, and support of the backup tool. You need to compare and contrast these aspects against your backup expectations, such as the backup performance, the backup customization, the backup reporting, the backup monitoring, and the backup troubleshooting.

When choosing a backup tool, you should take into account features such as backup scheduling (the ability to set up and run backup jobs automatically at specified times and intervals), encryption (protecting your files from unauthorized access and tampering), compression (reducing file size), deduplication (eliminating duplicate data blocks), verification (checking validity and consistency of files), restoration (restoring files to original or alternative database), migration (transferring files to another destination or format), reporting (showing status, progress, and results of jobs), monitoring (tracking and managing jobs and files), and troubleshooting (diagnosing and resolving issues). Ultimately, you need to choose the tool that best matches your specific challenges with regards to complexity, scalability, compatibility, and security.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?