That's it.  The only aspect of the cluster you need is the Windows parts.  And that is only for automatic failovers.

From SQL's side, every node is a separate standalone instance

For AG's you would setup the Windows cluster, then install SQL separately as individual instances on each server.

You don't need to install SQL as a failover cluster if your using...

I've found a number of articles on encrypting backups and transaction log backups, but all these are based on manually generated code to include the encryption details in the...

DECLARE @Primary BIT, @DB SYSNAME
SELECT @DB = database_name from msdb.dbo.sysjobsteps where job_id = CONVERT(uniqueidentifier, $(ESCAPE_NONE(JOBID))) and step_id = 2

SELECT @Primary = sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica (@DB)
IF @Primary = 1
BEGIN
SELECT N'Primary...

Have you taken a look at Job tokens Mike?

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/agent/use-tokens-in-job-steps?view=sql-server-ver15

Also any reason your not using sys.fn_hadr_is_primary_replica() instead of the query to determine if your on the right replica

The biggest issue is the "what if this all goes pear shaped" what is your rollback option, how long can you be down, how much data loss can you afford.

The...

As always depends what you need, if your talking a large volume of servers, you could be eligible for volume discounts on the larger retailers like Red-Gate, Quest, Idera.

Quest have...

Are you talking about the service account used to run SSRS as an application?

Or are you talking about the accounts used at the data source level to run the SQL...

Can you define the commonality conditions.

DB1 has a table called "Orders" with "28 columns" in the "DBO schema"

DB2 has a tabled called "Orders" with "69 columns" in the "SALES schema"

Is...

Why do you need to trigger this.  Why not just grant SELECT at the SCHEMA level instead of the OBJECT level save the overhead of a trigger firing every CREATE?

In my best Britney "Whoops I did it again, I hit report, when I should of it quote", more coffee needed obviously

Sorry Mike.

While sp_change_users_login will work, it will need to...

The only thing then is going to be the 5 minute wait, if your doing parallel backups then the jobs should really start at the same time.

Guessing the database in...

It does all come down to what you need Mike at the end of the day.

Sounds like you want something to provide local HA should a server have a problem,...

You have the @DatabasesInParallel param set to Y correct?  You also have the queue tables etc and got Ola's latest code base?

As a side note why are new servers being...

Are the services running as service accounts?  Have you granted trusted for delegation to the accounts in AD?