What or Who is taking SQL Server backups I have inherited a SQL Server 2008 R2 (SP3) Database. There are backups being taken daily at seemingly random times. The backups are not being saved locally on the server. I see the backup information in msdb..backupset table. What is taking these backups and where is it storing these backups? I see that VSS writer is the program name, I can disable the Service but I would like to get more information of what was done before I disable this service.


There are no agent jobs
There don't seem to be any Task Scheduler Jobs
There is no external program installed


I have created a trace and I see the following.

SQL:
BACKUP DATABASE [master] TO VIRTUAL_DEVICE='{8305D2E8-56C5-41E5-9F54-    17DDEE1A6991}7' WITH SNAPSHOT,BUFFERCOUNT=1,BLOCKSIZE=1024,COPY_ONLY

HostName is same as Server

Application Name: Microsoft SQL Server VSS Writer

LoginName: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
The reason why you don't is because an agent is taking the backup. Look at Windows Services for something with "backup" in it's name like NetBackup or Tivoli (TDP, TSM) the service would be running using System account. The virtual device is a temporary mount point. The backup agent is sending it to an external storage then should put it to tape. Agent don't always have a GUI and a shortcut in the Start Menu. You can look also in the installed programs for a hint.