AOMEI Cyber Backup
How to Configure SQL Server Point-in-Time Recovery
SQL Server Point-in-Time recovery can help you minimize data loss, provides granular recovery options, and reduces downtime. After configuring point-in-time recovery and following the best practices, you can have a better experience while using point-in-time recovery.
By Amelia / Updated on March 12, 2025
SQL Server is a widely used relational database management system that provides powerful data recovery mechanisms to prevent data loss. Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR) is one of the recovery methods that allow database administrators to recover data to a specific moment before an event such as loss, failure, or corruption occurs. In this article, point-in-time recovery in SQL Server will be explored, along with the prerequisites, steps, and best practices for implementation.
What is Point-in-Time Recovery
Point-in-time recovery (PITR) is a database recovery technique that restores a database to a specific point in time before a failure occurs. It utilizes transaction log backups to roll forward transactions to a specific point in time while avoiding any undesired or erroneous transactions that occur afterward.
Prerequisites for Point-in-Time Recovery
Before entering the recovery process, you need to ensure that your SQL Server environment is properly configured and supports PITR.
Database Recovery Mode: The database must be in full or mass record recovery mode.
Regular Backup Strategy:
- Full database backup.
- Differential backups (optional for efficiency).
- Transaction log backups.
Effective Backup Chaining: Ensure that log backups are continuous and without gaps.
📌Note: You can check the current recovery model using:
FROM sys.databases
WHERE name = 'YourDatabaseName';
Implementing Point-in-Time Recovery
Step 1. Identify the Recovery Point
Determine the exact time when you want to recover the database. You can use the transaction log to analyze the timestamps of events.
[Transaction ID],
[Begin Time],
[Transaction Name],
[Transaction State]
FROM fn_dblog(NULL, NULL);
Step 2. Restore a Full Database Backup
First, use the NORECOVERY option to restore the most recent full backup for further log recovery.
FROM DISK = 'C:\Backups\YourDatabase_Full.bak'
WITH NORECOVERY;
Step 3. Apply the Latest Differential Backup
If a differential backup is available, apply the latest backup.
FROM DISK = 'C:\Backups\YourDatabase_Diff.bak'
WITH NORECOVERY;
Step 4. Restore Transaction Log Backups
Apply each transaction log backup in turn up to the desired point.
FROM DISK = 'C:\Backups\YourDatabase_Log.trn'
WITH STOPAT = '2024-03-10 15:30:00', NORECOVERY;
Step 5. Online Database
After restoring all necessary log backups, bring the database online using WITH RECOVERY.
Best Practice for SQL Server Point-in-Time Recovery
Automatic Backups: Schedule regular full, differential, and transaction log backups.
Monitor Backup Integrity: Periodically validate backup files using RESTORE VERIFYONLY.
Securely Restore Backups: Keep backups in multiple locations (on-premise and in the cloud).
Minimize Recovery Time: Maintain up-to-data log chains to minimize downtime.
Test Recovery Periodically: Validate the recovery process in a test environment.
SQL Server Backup and Restore Using an Easy but Powerful Tool
For the safety of your SQL Server database, you can use a backup tool that can meet your data security needs. AOMEI Cyber Backup is a user-friendly and professional SQL database backup and recovery software. It can provide you with a variety of programs designed to meet the needs of users. When using AOMEI Cyber Backup, you can enjoy the following features:
Centralized Management: Manage all SQL backups from a central console, simplifying the task of managing and monitoring multiple databases or servers.
Flexible Backup Options: You can choose full, incremental, or differential backup types to meet your specific backup needs and optimize storage usage.
Restore to New Location: It allows you to restore all databases/specific databases from the backup to the original location. If necessary, you can also restore the SQL database to another server.
Scheduled Backup: You can set up a regular backup schedule to automatically protect SQL data without manual intervention.
Follow simple backup and restore steps via AOMEI Cyber Backup
1. In AOMEI Cyber Backup, navigate to Source Device > Microsoft SQL > Add Microsoft SQL.
2. Choose Download proxy program and install it on to the device with SQL Server installed. Then click Already installed proxy and select the device.
Next, click … > Authentication to validate the database instance. You can choose Windows Authentication or SQL Authentication.
3. Click Backup Task > Create New Task and choose Microsoft SQL Backup as the backup type.
4. Click on Device Name to specify the SQL instances and databases for backup. You can select one or multiple databases as you need.
5. Select Target to save backups. You can specify either a local path or a network path.
6. Set up a Schedule to run the SQL database backup daily, weekly, or monthly, and set the backup method as Full Incremental or Differential Backup.
7. Click Start Backup to execute the task. Once it’s finished, you will find the task in the Backup Task tab. You can edit it or restore the database from it as you need.
8. In the Backup Task, locate the task you want to restore and click … > Restore.
- If you are restoring to the original location, no need to select a target. Restore to original location is automatically selected, allowing you to begin restoration directly.
- If you prefer to Restore to a new location, you must choose a target and provide the name for the new database. You also have the option to adjust the storage location.
Conclusion
SQL Server point-in-time recovery is a key feature in preventing accidental data loss or corruption. By understanding the prerequisites, implementing a strong transactional backup strategy, and following best practices, you can ensure that databases can be quickly and accurately recovered to a specific point in time.
