Make a SQL Server Database Read Only

Usually a database is made read-only when you have to migrate a database to another server for running reports. Before the migration, here’s how to make a SQL Server Database ReadOnly so that data cannot be modified during the process

-- read only
ALTER DATABASE MYDB
SET READ_ONLY
GO

Once in a Read-Only mode, you cannot add new records, update or delete records.

To set the database back to read-write mode use this query:

ALTER DATABASE MYDB
SET READ_WRITE
GO

Now records can be added, deleted or modified.

About The Author

Suprotim Agarwal, MCSD, MCAD, MCDBA, MCSE, is the founder of DotNetCurry, DNC Magazine for Developers, SQLServerCurry and DevCurry. He has also authored a couple of books 51 Recipes using jQuery with ASP.NET Controls and a new one recently at The Absolutely Awesome jQuery CookBook.

Suprotim has received the prestigous Microsoft MVP award for nine times in a row now. In a professional capacity, he is the CEO of A2Z Knowledge Visuals Pvt Ltd, a digital group that represents premium web sites and digital publications comprising of Professional web, windows, mobile and cloud developers, technical managers, and architects.

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