I grew up in a pretty rural environment, in the southern US, in what's considered the Old West (Jesse James, reportedly, had a hideout a few miles from my current home, the Daltons, Belle Star, I can keep going, all came through this part of Oklahoma). Here, we call our daily tasks, like taking out the trash, chores. Like many people, I don't particularly care for my chores. One of many that I've added over the years is the chore of going to work out. I know people love it. In my youth, before everything hurt, I did too. Now... it's a chore. However, like a chore, I make sure and take care of it, because, like most chores, it's necessary.

Present me with a query tuning problem and I'm happy. Tell me I've got to set up backups, well, that's a chore. However, like making sure I get my exercise done, you need to ensure that you've got backups on your databases, even though it's a chore. You should also do the added chore of practicing restoring those backups. No fun, not at all. Necessary though. I'd also suggest you toss in the chore of setting up a way to get some of your backups stored offsite, in a secure location. Yeah, I know. Work. Unrewarding work. No fun work. A chore. I have more. I'd also recommend you ensure that you've got good security on your systems. Isolate that security too. Admin to the database shouldn't be admin to the network and vice versa. Yeah, I hear you. Another chore. No fun work. No happy results like when a query runs faster. Make sure you also limit who has admin rights to your clusters (SQL Server instances, whatever). More chores. Hate me now?

Well, if you were with Knights of Old Transport, I'll bet you wish you had done some, or all of these chores. A weak password, followed by poor security principals and a lack of secure, offsite storage for backups, resulted in a hack that put the company out of business. Unemployment is WAY less fun than doing chores.

I get it. Chores are no fun. Who the heck enjoys taking out the trash? Yet, chores must be accomplished, and accomplished well, or, there'll be hell to pay. If I don't keep working out (and keep my weight down), I'm already in line for a pacemaker. So, chore or not, I get that work out completed. Chore or not, set up backups, test your backups through restores, practice restoring, get an offsite storage of some kind that's secure, and isolated, and for the love all that is good in the world, make damned sure you set up security appropriately.

Get your chores done!