Knowledge Base

The server principal NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM is not able to access the database

Category: Security & data protection
Date: 08 Jun 2009
Product: SQL Backup
When performing a backup or restore operation, the following error message may occur:

Error 880: BACKUP DATABASE permission denied in database: (xxxx)
SQL error 916: The server principal "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" is not able to access the database "xxxx" under the current security context.
SQL Backup exit code: 880
SQL error code: 916

It is likely that the SQL Backup Agent service for the server has been configured to use a Local System Account.

Modify the Login account for the SQL Backup Agent service to use a Windows Authenticated account that has Sysadmin privileges on the SQL Server. For further information on the SQL Backup Security Model, please use the link below to the SQL Backup Help file:

http://help.red-gate.com/help/SQLBackup5/3/en/SQLBackup.htm - Getting Started section ->Security Model page.