Database Backup and Restore Strategies
Protect your data with reliable backups: dump and restore PostgreSQL and MySQL databases, automate backups with cron, and understand point-in-time recovery so you can survive disk failures and mistakes.
Backups Are Part of Security
You installed a database, locked down access, and secured connections. But a hardened server is still vulnerable to disk failure, accidental DROP TABLE, or ransomware.
Backups are the last line of defense. A database is only as safe as its most recent tested backup.
Logical vs Physical Backups
There are two broad approaches:
- Logical — export SQL statements / data (e.g.
pg_dump,mysqldump). Portable, human-readable, slower to restore. - Physical — copy the raw data files. Fast for huge databases, but tied to the server version.
Most setups start with logical backups.
All lessons in this course
- Installing PostgreSQL/MySQL
- Database User and Access Control
- Secure Database Connections
- Database Backup and Restore Strategies