Create a Maintenance Plan in SQL Server Management Studio

Maintenance Plans allow you to create a workflow of maintenance tasks in SQL Server to ensure your databases are fully optimized and backed up. Plans can be created manually, or by using the built-in wizard, and can be performed manually or automatically on a schedule.

Maintenance Plans are executed as SQL Server Agent jobs. The SQL Server Agent must be running.

To create a Maintenance Plan in SQL Server Management Studio:

  1. Navigate to Management > Maintenance Plans.
  2. Right-click Maintenance Plans and choose Maintenance Plan Wizard.
    • Rebuild Index
    • Backup Database (Full)
  3. Proceed through the wizard to the Select Maintenance Tasks page and check the following recommended tasks (as a minimum):
  4. Proceed through the wizard (setting any options as appropriate) to the Define Rebuild Index Task page.
  5. Select the BeyondTrustReporting Database and click OK.
  6. Proceed through the wizard (setting any options as appropriate) to the Define Back Up Database (Full) Task page.
  7. Select the BeyondTrustReporting Database and click OK.
  8. Set the backup schedule, backup location, and any other options as appropriate.
  9. Proceed through the wizard (setting any options as appropriate). Click Finish to complete the wizard and create the new Maintenance Plan.

The new plan is now listed under the Maintenance Plans node and can be edited at any time. The Maintenance Plan can be run manually by right-clicking and choosing Execute.