Comprehensive Guide: SQL Server Backup to Network Share

Ensuring SQL Server data security ensures enterprise business continuity. One of the most effective ways to protect your data is to back up your SQL Server databases to a network share. This method not only provides an extra layer of security but also ensures that your data can be accessed from multiple locations. In this article, you will be provided with the process of backup SQL Server to network share as well as the best strategy.

How to Backup SQL Server to Network Share

Step 1. Prepare the Network Share

Before backing up a SQL Server database to a network share, you need to ensure that the network share is properly configured and accessible.

• Create a network share: Create a shared file on the server where you want to store your backups, and make sure the folder has the necessary permissions to allow SQL Server to write to it.
• Map Network Share: Map the network share on the SQL Server to a drive letter or use a UNC path (e.g., \\ServerName\ShareName).

Step 2. Configure SQL Server Backup

Once the network share is ready, you can configure the SQL Server to back up the database to the network share.

👉Using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

• Open SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.
• Right-click on the database you want to back up, select Tasks, and then click Back Up.
• In the Backup Database dialog, select the backup type (Full, Differential, or Transaction Log).
• In the Destination section, click Add and specify the network share path (e.g., \\ServerName\ ShareName\BackupFile.bak).
• Click OK to start the backup.

👉Using T-SQL Commands

You can also use T-SQL commands to back up your database to a network share. For example:

This command will create a full backup of the specified database and store it on the network share.

Step 3. Automate the Backup Process

To ensure that your backups are running properly, you can use SQL Server Agent to automate the process.

🔶Create a Backup Job

• Open SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.
• Navigate to SQL Server Agent > Jobs and right-click to create a new job.
• Add a new step in the Job Step section and enter the T-SQL command for the backup.
• Schedule the job at your desired frequency (e.g., daily, weekly).

🔶Monitor the Backup Job

Regularly monitor the backup job to ensure that it is running successfully. You can configure alerts to notify you in case of any failures.

An Error-Free Way to Backup SQL Server to Network Share

In addition to the methods provided above, you can also use AOMEI Cyber Backup for SQL Server backup to network share. It is a centralized backup and management solution for all SQL servers and virtual machines within a LAN.

Here is a 30-day free trial for you:

Prerequisites

• To use the AOMEI Cyber Backup trial version correctly, especially if you want to manage multiple computers on your domain network, you need to access Source Device > Add Microsoft SQL. If the database exists and the version is supported, it will appear automatically. Otherwise, you can download proxy program to local first. Then click Already installed proxy and select the unadded proxies.

• Click … > Authentication to validate the database instance. You can choose Windows Authentication or SQL Authentication. Enter the credentials and click Verify.

Step 1. Click Backup Task > Create New Task, and select Backup Type as Microsoft SQL Backup.

Step 2. Enter a name for the backup task and select the database you want to backup.

Step 3. Select a location as the destination path. You can choose a local or network path as a storage end.

Step 4. Click Schedule Backup to run your SQL database backup automatically and regularly. You can specify the backup methods as full/differential/incremental backup and the backup time as daily/weekly/monthly.

Step 5. Click Start Backup to create the backup task and perform the backup.

🎈You can enjoy more useful features:

• Backup Cleanup: It can help you to delete older backup versions automatically and therefore save storage space.
• Email Notification: It enables you to receive email notifications when the task is abnormal or successful.
• Restore to new location: You can select target and specify the name of the new database. You can also modify the storage location.

Conclusion

Backing up your SQL Server database to a network share enhances the security of your data. With the methods provided in this article, you can ensure that your SQL Server backups are reliable, secure, and available when you need them. Implementing regular backups not only protects your data, but also allows you to recover it instantly in the face of potential data loss.