June 9, 2009 at 9:42 am
We have a client that requires us to update all backed up data including SQL backups and everything that exist on tape. If they delete a record in the database, they want that record deleted through all backups.
Is this possible? I can't find any 3rd party tools that discuss this option.
I've asked the question of - If we change the backup, why have a backup at all. The answer of course is we need it for data retention and of course recovery.
June 9, 2009 at 9:47 am
I do not think it is possible. One thing you can do is to restore the backed up database, delete the record manually and back it up again by over writting the DB back up that was restored... 😉
Maybe someone else has other ideas??
-Roy
June 9, 2009 at 9:48 am
Not possible, and doesn't make sense to do it in my opinion. You'd have to restore the every backup to determine if the data existed, then delete it, then backup the database again. Then, you'd need to delete the backups you restored so that you couldn't recreate the data that was deleted.
Okay, I'm confused, are you?
June 9, 2009 at 9:50 am
I don't think the client knows what they want or what they are asking for.
I just wanted to check and see if anyone else had to deal with this.
June 9, 2009 at 9:50 am
Hey Lynn, We echoooooood :hehe:
I think we posted at the same time with almost the same advice....:hehe:
-Roy
June 9, 2009 at 9:53 am
One option I've been considering is using online backup. This will backup the DB files and archive the updated DB. The problem is it does not change the prior backups. it doesn't make sense to want to delete a record that was backed up a year ago, does it?!?!?!? What's the point of the backup?
June 9, 2009 at 9:53 am
christian.benvenuto (6/9/2009)
I don't think the client knows what they want or what they are asking for.I just wanted to check and see if anyone else had to deal with this.
I think the client know exactly what they want. They are trying to make sure that there are no records anywhere in the system when they delete of a transaction (maybe Customer Information). This way when an investigation comes, they can say there are record of this issue. That would make this request from your client a bit unethical I would say. This is what I think. Not sure though..... So apologies if I am mistaken.
-Roy
June 9, 2009 at 9:54 am
Additional thought. If you were able to automate such a delete/update routine, what if a delete were done by mistake? How would you recover the accidently deleted/updated data if you deleted/updated the data in backups?
June 9, 2009 at 9:55 am
thank you Lynn, that is exactly what i'm thinking
June 9, 2009 at 10:02 am
This flies in the face of what a backup/restore is for, and in common sense in terms of DR.
I can see the "worried about an investigation" and there are legitimate concerns there. However you handle this by destroying old backups. You pick a time frame that works for DR, maybe it's one day, and then to destroy everything else.
HOWEVER, if you have a short time frame, say less than a week, you had better be sure you have 3 copies of every backup in case you have media issues, etc.
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June 9, 2009 at 4:14 pm
It's an odd requirement...
Do you have any audit databases or flat files ... presumably they would like the details removed from those as well?
My best suggestion is to buy a shredder that can take tape 🙂
Tim
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