Database administrators often encounter storage issues due to databases containing large volumes of data and their backups. When these backup files grow, users look for methods for SQL Server reduce backup file size. With the help of this write-up, we will go through the best ways a user can reduce the backup file size and safeguard the data stored within from permanent data loss. Let’s begin by understanding the challenges of how large backup files affect database performance. 

SQL Backup File Size Growing – Common Reasons & Challenges

Here we will take a look at the common causes that lead to backup file size growth and then move to the challenges it creates for database administrators. 

  • The most common reason for this issue is the increased size of the database and other database objects. This leads to an increase in database backup file size. 
  • Frequent full backups in SQL Server databases also increase backup file sizes and storage consumption. 
  • Uncompressed backups take up more space and can eventually increase database backup file sizes. 
  • Databases that handle frequent transactions and consistent updates can also result in significant backup file size growth. 

These are some of the common reasons that can result in database backup size growth. Now, moving on to the challenges encountered by database administrators due to increased backup file size and how we can reduce them. 

Challenges Due to Backup File Size Growth

  • Storage space shortage is a common challenge encountered due to the increased size of SQL backup files. 
  • Large backup files take longer to be created and especially when dealing with limited storage. 
  • Backup transfer speed is also impacted due to large database backup file sizes. 
  • Database performance is often affected overall because of the large databases as they might compete for disk, memory, and CPU resources. 
  • Due to insufficient disk space in the database, users might encounter backup job failures and further leave the database without recent database copies. 

These are the common challenges due to large database backup file size. Let’s now take a look at the methods to resolve the issue and reduce the backup file size in SQL Server. 

SQL Server Reduce Backup File Size – Top Methods Explained

We will now go through the methods one by one to reduce SQL backup file size. Let’s begin with the first method. 

Method 1: Compress SQL Server Backup Files

SQL Server backup compression is one of the reliable methods for reducing the size of backup files. SQL Server supports the native compression method to reduce the size of the files during the backup operation. This helps users create a smaller backup file and saves storage space after backup creation. Below is how users can reduce the backup file size by compressing it. 

  1. Open SSMS and connect it to the SQL Server instance. 
  2. Next, expand the databases and then right-click on the database required for the backup. 
  3. Then, select Tasks and choose the Back Up option. 
  4. In the Backup Database window, go to the Backup Options. 
  5. From the compression options, choose the Compress Backup option. 
  6. Then, configure the backup destination and other required settings. 
  7. Lastly, click the OK button to create the compressed backup. 

These steps will help users with the SQL Server reduce backup file size. Let’s now move to the next method that will help users with the process. 

Method 2: Use Differential and Transaction Log Backups

Here, we prefer using differential and transaction log backups to reduce the size of SQL Server backups. We will thoroughly understand these backup types one by one and know how they are beneficial in preventing backup file size growth issues. 

Differential Backup in SQL Server

The differential backup stores the data changed since the last and the most recent backup. The differential backup generally stores less storage than the full backup when the changes made to the database are limited. Below are the steps on how to create a differential backup. 

Step 1: Create a full backup first. 

BACKUP DATABASE [Database_Name]
TO DISK = 'D:\Backups\FullBackup.bak';

Step 2: Then, create a differential backup. 

BACKUP DATABASE [Database_Name]
TO DISK = 'D:\Backups\DifferentialBackup.bak'
WITH DIFFERENTIAL, COMPRESSION;

This is how a user can create a differential backup and save significant space. Let’s now take a look at how a user can take transaction log backup in the database and how it helps users to overcome the storage space issue in the database. 

Transaction Log Backups for SQL Server Reduce Backup File Size

This backup type stores the transaction log records that are not included in the previous log backups. Here is the syntax on how these backups can be created. 

BACKUP LOG [Database_Name]
TO DISK = 'D:\Backups\TransactionLogBackup.trn'
WITH COMPRESSION;

The command helps users to effectively create a transaction log backup. This method is helpful for databases that have frequent transactions and recovery requirements. Moving on to the next approach to reduce SQL backup file size. 

Method 3: Store SQL Backups in Multiple Files

When the database backup size increases and becomes too large for a single destination, it is preferred to store the database backups across multiple files. With this method, the storage is distributed across multiple disks, and the size of individual backup files is reduced. 

Below is the command to store the backup data across multiple files:

BACKUP DATABASE [Database_Name]
TO
    DISK = 'D:\Backups\BackupPart1.bak',
    DISK = 'E:\Backups\BackupPart2.bak'
WITH COMPRESSION;

Remember: Splitting a single database backup file into multiple files does not automatically reduce the file size. This method only distributes the backup data across different locations. Let’s now take a look at the next method to understand how it can be helpful in this situation. 

Smartly Manage Large-Sized SQL Server Backup Files

As we understood from the above methods, even compressed backups, differential backups, or transaction log backups help to some extent. However, these methods don’t guarantee that the database backup files will remain corruption-free or accessible after reducing backup file space or sizes. In such scenarios, using a dedicated solution like SysTools SQL Backup Recovery Tool.

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This solution is capable of managing backup files in a much more secure way. In case the backups are damaged after compression or become inaccessible, this utility allows restoring the data to a healthy destination more precisely.

Method 4: Create Logical Backups in SQL Server

This is another method that can help users with SQL Server reduce backup file size. The logical backup file stores the database object definitions and data as SQL Scripts instead of creating a conventional database backup file. Below are the steps for how a user can create a logical backup in the database. 

  1. Open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to the SQL Server instance. 
  2. Next, right-click on the database that is required to be exported. 
  3. Go to Tasks and then choose the Generate Scripts option. 
  4. Next, select the database objects to be included. 
  5. Go to the Advanced settings option and set Types of Data to Script Schema and Data. 
  6. Then, choose the destination to save the generated SQL script.
  7. Complete the wizard to generate the script file. 

These steps will allow users to create a script with database objects that can be further used to recreate specified data and objects. Here are some of the advantages of creating a logical backup in the database. 

  • Helps users select specified database objects. 
  • Makes the database definition available for readability. 
  • Allows users to extract data selectively. 
  • Helpful for long term migration scenarios. 

The logical backups in SQL Server can help with backup file size reduction in some ways; however, they aren’t a direct replacement for native SQL Server backups. Let’s now take a look at the next method for this. 

Method 5: Use Separate Databases to Reduce SQL Backup  File Size

This method specifies that keeping all the data in a single database can lead to increased database backup size. If the data stored within the database is separated into operational data, legacy records, and recently accessed information, it can help reduce the database backup file size significantly. 

With the help of this method, users can easily apply different backup schedules to individual databases and save time and storage space. This method can help users with optimizing and managing the space in the database, but it doesn’t mean that it reduces the complete backup file size. 

Safety Tips for SQL Server Reduce Backup File Size

Here are some of the safety measures that will help users understand and safeguard their databases from unnecessary database backup file size growth.

  • It is a good practice to keep the backup compression enabled so that the backup file size doesn’t consume much storage space. 
  • Create and follow an appropriate backup schedule for full, differential, and transaction log backups. 
  • It is a safety practice to monitor the backup size regularly so that any issue regarding storage can be resolved at the earliest. 
  • By avoiding unnecessary database backup changes, users can reduce the backup overhead and the backup file size as well. 
  • With SQL Server verify backup integrity, database administrators can simply validate whether a database backup can be used for restoration or not. 

Conclusion

With the help of this blog, we have discussed the effective ways for SQL Server reduce backup file size. Also, to make the concept clearer for the database administrators, we have listed the common causes and challenges a user might encounter due to abrupt backup file size growth. We have also mentioned the optimal ways to reduce the file size in a much safer way.