Back up SQL Server to Google Drive

SQL Backup Master makes it easy to send SQL Server database backups directly to your Google Drive account. This tutorial walks through the complete process – from creating a backup job and connecting to SQL Server through authorizing Google Drive and verifying your first backup.

Because Google Drive accounts include free storage, this is one of the simplest ways to get secure, off-site protection for your databases at no cost. SQL Backup Master compresses each backup before upload, and can optionally encrypt it as well.

Prerequisites

• A Google account with access to Google Drive. If you don't have one, visit the Google Drive homepage and create an account at no cost.
• SQL Backup Master installed on a Windows host that can reach your SQL Server instance.
• Credentials for a SQL Server login (or a Windows account) with permission to back up your databases.

Step 1: Create a backup job

In SQL Backup Master, create a new database backup job. The Database Backup Editor window will open – give the job a descriptive name so it's easy to identify later.

Step 2: Connect to SQL Server

Click Choose SQL Server in the backup job editor. The SQL Server connection dialog will appear. Enter your SQL Server instance name in the Server Name field. Common formats include:

(local)\SQLExpress – local SQL Server Express instance
(local) – local SQL Server default instance
Server1\SQLExpress – remote SQL Server Express instance
Server1 – remote default instance
                                    

Click Test SQL Connection to verify connectivity, then OK to proceed. If SQL Backup Master prompts you about the Windows account used to run the backup, you can have the backup run under a specific Windows account by entering its credentials when asked – useful when the SQL Backup Master service account doesn't have access to your SQL Server instance.

Step 3: Select databases

The backup job editor now lists the databases available on your SQL Server instance under the Source section. Check the databases you'd like to back up. To automatically include databases created in the future, enable the option to back up all non-system databases.

Step 4: Add the Google Drive destination

Under Destinations, click Add, then double-click Google Drive in the destination list. The Google Drive Destination Settings window will appear.

Click Authorize Now. A browser window opens where you sign in with your Google credentials and grant SQL Backup Master permission to upload files. Once authorization completes, the destination settings window will confirm the connection. Note that SQL Backup Master requests Google's limited drive.file access scope, which means it can only see and manage folders and files it creates itself – it cannot access your other Drive content or files shared with you.

Click OK to save the destination.

Step 5: Schedule and settings

SQL Backup Master can run the job automatically on a recurring schedule – configure one in the backup job editor if you'd like unattended backups. You can also review compression, encryption, and retention options in the job's settings before saving.

Step 6: Run and verify the backup

Save the backup job and return to the main window. Select the job and click Back up now. When the job completes, review the job log to confirm each database backed up and uploaded successfully – the log is also the first place to look if anything goes wrong. You can then open Google Drive in your browser to see the uploaded backup files in the folder SQL Backup Master created.

Related resources

• Google Drive backup product tour – annotated screenshots of the steps above.
• Google Drive destination documentation – full reference for all destination settings.