First, you learn what you need to do and just how much infrastructure, planning, and work you have in front of you. Setting up the technical aspects of backup and recovery is relatively easy and extremely well documented, so your initial work needs to be with the business, understanding what you have to deal with there. Getting your database back online and operational is first and foremost a business decision, not a technical one. Again, let me proffer several suggestions. The good news is, this is a well-worn path. So now you’re prepared to get started with backups, but you’re unsure of even where to begin. Yes, there are probably a million screaming issues and every single one of them is important, but if your database fails, which they do, and you have no backup…well, let’s just say that’s not a conversation you want to have with management. The very first thing you should check on is the state of your backups. Either way, you’re expected to know what to do and, let’s face it, figuring out where to start is hard. You’ve either volunteered or had the job thrust upon you. Through some quirk of fate, you’re now responsible for your company’s databases. SQL Server Backup and Restore for the Accidental DBA - Simple Talk
