Not understanding options
Another big problem is people not being aware of the different options that are available using T-SQL commands and using SQL Server Management Studio.
You should take the time to read SQL Server Books Online, so you understand all the options for backup and recovery. Also, there are several free resources on the Internet that you can benefit from reading. You should not assume that you know everything without first reading up on what is available.
Not understanding the restore process
We talked about recovery some already. But another area where you should take the time to learn is the restore process. While backups are important, recovery is even more important.
Make sure that you know as much as possible, so that when the time comes to restore a database, or databases, you are not learning at the same time.
Relying on SQL Server Management Studio
Another common problem is relying on Management Studio. This is a great tool to do most of what you need to do. But there are some options that you cannot use with SQL Server Management Studio.
You should take the time to understand the T-SQL commands. You are going to know the T-SQL commands if you need to do restores or backups from a command line.
Just downloading and implementing scripts without understanding
Perhaps avoid just downloading scripts and implementing them without knowing what they are doing.
Take the time to read through the script and also any documentation about the script. You want to make sure you are getting what you expect.
Without taking the time to understand the script, how would you know if it works correctly?
Not taking time to learn new features
Another common mistake is not taking the time to learn new features. You may think that backups are backups, which is true. But there are always new features for backup with each release of SQL Server. It is best to stay current as new versions of SQL Server are released and also read up on any changes when you apply service packs.
Read the whitepaper “Top SQL Server backup mistakes (and how to avoid them)” by Greg Robidoux from MSSQLTips to learn more about improving SQL Server backups..