DBA Checklist - General High Availability

1. Physically protect your SQL Servers from unauthorized users.
2. Physically document all of your SQL Server instances. Incorporate effective change management.
3. Always use a RAIDed array or SAN for storing your data.
4. Use SQL Server clustering, database mirroring, or log shipping to provide extra fault tolerance.
5. Replication is not an effective means to protect your data.
6. Ensure that your entire IT infrastructure is redundant. It is only as strong as its weakest link.
7. Always use server-class hardware, and standardize on the same hardware as much as possible.
8. Use hardware and software monitoring tools so you can quickly become aware of when problems first arise.
9. After testing, apply all new service packs and hot fixes to the OS and SQL Server.
10. Cross-train staff so that there are multiple people who are able to deal with virtually any problem or issue.