What DBA wouldn’t appreciate a process that allows for fast and easy restoration of lost data? If the process allows you and your users to examine the information before restoring it, to use a minimal amount of drive space, and to carry out all the necessary steps with only local resources, then you have a solution that not only saves you time, but improves the options you have for supporting users and developers.

All of these options are available when using SQL Server’s Database Snapshot functionality. When configured, it gives you access to a point-in-time, read-only view of the database and its records. Multiple snapshots can be created on the same database. Database snapshots require the original database to function, and you will be required to delete them before you can remove the original database.