Services / SQL Server recovery readiness
I check whether the available backups, restore target, access and validation steps can return the service within the time the business expects.
The engagement can cover a written readiness assessment, a restore-test plan, support during the agreed test, or all three. Delivery is remote, and the written quote defines the work before anything is scheduled.
Direct contact
You work with the consultant assessing and supporting the SQL Server recovery work.
Flexible scope
Book an assessment, restore-test planning, hands-on support, or the complete engagement.
Written output
You receive the agreed findings, recovery steps, test plan and recorded results.
I can assess the current setup, prepare the restore-test plan, support the agreed test, or handle all three stages.
The written scope states the responsibilities, access, deliverables and test work included before anything is scheduled.
Assess
For companies that need an experienced DBA to check the current recovery setup before planning a test.
I review the available backup and restore history, recovery targets, infrastructure, access, recovery notes and HA or DR setup.
You receive written findings and my recommended next step.
Plan
For companies with recovery targets but no agreed test scope, target server or validation plan.
I define the database, restore point, test target, required access, timing capture, validation checks, owners and fallback actions.
You receive a test plan ready for scheduling.
Test
For companies that want senior SQL Server help preparing and running the agreed restore exercise.
I help prepare or run the agreed test, record timing and failures, review the validation results and update the recovery steps.
My exact responsibilities, access and test role are set in the approved scope.
A successful backup job shows that a job finished. A restore test checks whether the company can recover the required data and return the service to users.
Backup jobs finish and files exist, but there is no recent restore result for the incident the company needs to handle.
RTO and RPO exist, but nobody has measured backup access, target preparation, restore time, validation and return to service.
The recovery notes leave open questions about credentials, restore order, approval, validation or who makes each decision.
Always On, clustering, log shipping, replicas or backup tooling exist, but their behavior during the required recovery case has not been tested.
The work follows the actual recovery path. These are the areas that decide which data can be restored, how long recovery takes and when the service is usable again.
01 / Recovery point
The first question is which point in time the available files can actually reach.
02 / Restore target
A usable backup still needs somewhere suitable to run and people who can reach everything required.
03 / Recovery time
Restore duration is only one part of the time the business waits.
04 / Usable service
SQL Server being online is only useful when the application owner can accept the service.
The deliverables depend on the approved scope. Measured timing is reported only when a real test or usable test history exists.
What is tested, missing, outdated, inaccessible or still unclear. I group the findings by their effect on recovery.
Measured timing when test results exist. Where they do not, I separate estimates from gaps and identify the first RTO or RPO mismatch.
The commands, owners, access requirements, validation points, decisions and fallback actions that need updating.
The database, restore point, target, access, timing capture, validation, owners and result recording for the next test.
Start with the recovery problem and any details already available. I will confirm the scope, explain what access is needed and send a written quote before the remote work is scheduled.
01
Send the main concern, SQL Server version, backup tooling, latest restore test, stated RTO and RPO, urgency and any notes you already have. Incomplete information is fine.
02
I confirm whether the work should cover assessment, planning, test support or a combination. I may suggest a call after the form if it would help.
03
The quote defines responsibilities, required access, deliverables, exclusions, timing and price.
04
Work starts after written approval. Delivery is remote.
05
You receive the agreed assessment, test plan, test support or updated recovery steps. Remediation and ongoing support outside that scope receive a separate quote.
I am Mihaly Kertesz, an independent database engineer with more than 20 years working with enterprise databases and infrastructure. I review the initial details, prepare the scope and quote, and perform the agreed assessment or restore-test support.
You keep one technical contact from the first scope discussion through the assessment, test planning and agreed restore support.
I provide the service remotely through shared records, controlled access and screen sharing. Access and test responsibilities are agreed before work starts.
Use these pages to inspect the problem or prepare useful details before requesting a quote.
Related
A checklist for restore steps, dependencies, validation, owners, and handback during recovery.
Open checklist
Related
How to check backup chains, restore tests, recovery timing, dependencies, and handback.
Open guide
Related
A checklist for restore steps, dependencies, validation, and handback during recovery.
Open checklist
The health audit covers recovery together with jobs, monitoring, access, configuration and general production risk.
See health audit
The performance review covers blocking, deadlocks, slow queries and workload timing.
See performance review
Upgrade support covers CUs, major-version changes, compatibility, migrations and rollback planning.
See upgrade support
Send the SQL Server version, instance count, backup tooling and schedule, plus the latest restore-test result, stated RTO and RPO, main concern and urgency when available. An existing runbook, job history, screenshots or tool reports can help. I will clarify the scope and send a written quote before scheduling work. A call is optional after form submission.
The scope can cover a written readiness assessment, a restore-test plan, hands-on test support or a combination. I recommend what to include after reading the initial details.
Only when it appears in the approved written scope. Access, target infrastructure, company controls and the work needed during the test determine what I can perform directly.
You receive the deliverables listed in the approved scope. These may include written findings, a recovery timing assessment, corrected recovery steps and a plan for the next restore test.
Initial scoping can start without production access. Controlled read-only access may be useful later when exports and existing records do not answer the agreed questions.
Yes, when those records contain enough detail for the agreed work. Backup history, job output, scripts, screenshots, tool reports and recovery notes are useful starting points.
Yes. Recovery-readiness consulting and restore-test support are delivered remotely.
Price depends on the agreed scope, instance and database count, backup tooling, target availability, access, HA or DR complexity and whether test support is included. You receive a written quote before scheduling.
I review the initial message and clarify the scope by email. A call is optional when it would help. I then send a written scope and quote for approval before scheduling the work.
Yes. Fixes and ongoing support can follow under a separately agreed scope and quote.
