Consulting / SQL Server disaster recovery

SQL Server disaster recovery consultant

I review SQL Server recovery plans, restore testing, backup chains, failover behavior, and runbooks before a bad day turns them into guesses.

Use this when backups exist, HA or DR is configured, or a runbook exists, but restore timing, validation, dependencies, or handback steps are still unclear.

Contact about SQL Server See recovery readiness

Fit

When SQL Server disaster recovery consulting fits

Backups run, but recovery is unclear

Backup jobs may complete, but the restore path, timing, validation, and service handback are not clear enough.

HA exists, but failover has not been tested recently

Availability features are configured, but the company still needs to know what happens during a real failover.

A runbook exists, but the steps are stale

The document exists, but it may not match the current SQL Server setup, dependencies, owners, or restore target.

A change is coming

An audit, migration, upgrade, vendor change, or support handover is making recovery questions harder to ignore.

Technical questions

The recovery questions I would check first

When was the last restore test?
Is the backup chain complete?
How long did the last restore take?
Which jobs, logins, certificates, linked servers, or app steps are needed after restore?
What happens if HA failover works but the application still fails?

Business questions

The decisions behind the recovery plan

What RPO and RTO are expected?
Which systems must come back first?
Who decides whether to restore, fail over, or wait?
Who validates the application after SQL Server is available?
Which items need owners before the next change?

Review scope

What I check in a SQL Server recovery review

Backups

Backup chain and retention

Full, differential, and log backup history, failed backups, retention, copy-only surprises, and restore point choices.

HistoryChainRetention

Restore

Restore testing

Last restore test, restore target, validation steps, timing, CHECKDB after restore, and application handback.

TimingTargetValidation

Targets

RPO and RTO

Expected data loss, expected downtime, actual restore timing, business tolerance, and gaps between target and reality.

RPORTOTolerance

HA / DR

HA and failover behavior

Availability Group, failover cluster, log shipping, replication, or other DR setup checked against real recovery needs.

FailoverReplicaTopology

Runbook

Runbooks and handback

Recovery steps, decision points, communication path, validation owner, application checks, and handback criteria.

StepsOwnersHandback

Access

Dependencies and access

Logins, jobs, credentials, certificates, linked servers, service accounts, storage, monitoring, and vendor dependencies.

LoginsJobsAccess

Output

What usually comes out of the review

What to test first

Restore path, failover behavior, backup chain, app validation, or handback steps that need a real test.

What needs an owner

Restore decisions, validation, communication, vendor dependencies, alerts, or post-recovery checks.

What needs timing

Restore duration, failover time, application validation, data catch-up, and business handback.

What can wait

Cleanup, formatting, and low-risk documentation work that should not distract from recovery readiness.

Choosing the right start

DR consulting or another service

Situation	Better start	Reason
Restore timing, failover, or runbooks are the main concern	DR consulting	Recovery path, timing, validation, and handback need to be checked together.
The work is a narrower restore-readiness check	Recovery readiness	Start there when backup chain, restore test, and RPO/RTO review are already the clear scope.
Several SQL Server areas are unclear at once	Existing environment review	Backups, jobs, alerts, ownership, recovery, and supportability need a wider review.
The main issue is active slowness or blocking	Performance review	Start with waits, blocking, plans, and workload timing.
The main issue is a version change	Upgrade support	Start with compatibility, test run, rollback, and validation.

First step

How the work starts

Start with the recovery concern. I will tell you whether this should be DR consulting, recovery readiness, or another SQL Server service.

First message

Recovery concern, urgency, upcoming pressure.

After fit check

Backup history, restore notes, failover notes, runbook.

Output

Findings, recommendations, next steps.

Step

1. Send the recovery concern

The first message only needs the recovery concern, urgency, and whether a change or audit is coming.

Step

2. I decide whether DR consulting fits

If the work is better handled as recovery readiness, upgrade support, or monthly DBA support, I will say that plainly.

Step

3. We agree what to check

Backup history, restore notes, failover notes, runbook, RPO/RTO targets, monitoring data, and access details come after the fit check.

Step

4. I review the SQL Server details

The review stays tied to recovery: restore path, failover behavior, dependencies, validation, timing, and handback.

Step

5. You get usable findings

You get findings, recommended next steps, what I would test first, and what can wait.

Not the right fit

When this is not the right fit

You only need a single backup failure checked.
You need 24/7 monitoring or permanent staffing.
You need a full infrastructure DR program outside SQL Server.
Nobody can arrange access or provide SQL Server details after first contact.

Better fit

When this review is useful

Restore testing, RPO/RTO, failover, runbooks, and SQL Server dependencies need review.
An audit, migration, upgrade, vendor change, or support handover is coming.
The company needs a senior SQL Server read before deciding what to test or change.

Related SQL Server pages

Recovery readiness

For backup chains, restore testing, RPO/RTO, recovery notes, and validation steps.

See recovery review

Main service

SQL Server consulting

The main page for performance, recovery, upgrades, current setup reviews, and ongoing DBA help.

See consulting

Remote help

Remote SQL Server consultant

For review, troubleshooting, planning, and DBA help that can be handled remotely.

See remote consulting

Existing environment

Existing SQL Server environment

For current SQL Server setups where backups, jobs, alerts, recovery, ownership, and documentation are all partly unclear.

See environment review

Upgrade

Upgrade support

For compatibility, test run, rollback, validation, and version-change risk.

See upgrade help

Ongoing help

Monthly DBA support

For companies that need regular SQL Server review, troubleshooting, and planned-change help.

See support

Contact

Need a SQL Server recovery plan reviewed?

Send a short note about the recovery concern, what changed recently, and what decision is coming next. I will tell you whether DR consulting is the right start.

Contact about SQL Server

A short description is enough for the first message.

FAQ

What does a SQL Server disaster recovery consultant check?

I check backup chains, restore testing, recovery timing, HA or DR behavior, runbooks, SQL Server dependencies, validation steps, and handback.

Is this the same as recovery readiness?

Recovery readiness is the narrower service when restore testing and backup chain review are already the clear scope. DR consulting is broader when failover, runbooks, ownership, and dependencies also need review.

Can this be done remotely?

Yes. Most SQL Server DR review work can be done remotely when someone can arrange access, screen-share, or provide the right SQL Server details after the first fit check.

Do you test restores yourself?

That depends on access, safety, and scope. I can review the restore path, help plan the test, review the result, or carry out agreed SQL Server checks when access is arranged safely.

What should I send first?

Send the recovery concern, urgency, what changed recently, and whether an audit, migration, upgrade, or support handover is coming.

Can this lead to monthly DBA support?

Yes. If the review shows recovery checks need regular follow-up, monthly DBA support may be the better fit.