Are Snapshots Backups? Revisiting Modern Data Protection for SQL Server

A few years ago, we asked the question: "Are snapshots backups?" Since then, application landscapes have evolved, SQL Server has introduced new snapshot-aware capabilities, and data protection expectations have shifted toward faster RPOs, automated policies, and fleet-wide recovery intelligence. In this updated session, we revisit the snapshot vs. backup debate with fresh perspective. We will look at how array snapshots work and how they can provide consistent recovery points. We'll dive into SQL Server's T-SQL Snapshot Backup feature for application-consistent snapshots, common backup and restore scenarios, and show you how to build a queryable metadata-driven snapshot catalog enabling you to search snapshots by database name, instance, and timestamp across your entire storage fleet. This will be a demo-heavy session with practical scenarios and deep dives, and I'll share my opinions on why snapshots have become a cornerstone of modern data protection strategies. You will learn: How storage array snapshots work and differ from traditional backups How to use T-SQL Snapshot Backup for application-consistent database snapshots How to seed an availability group from a snapshot How to build a searchable snapshot catalog that follows your data through replication Why snapshots have become a cornerstone of modern data protection strategies