Before any sync: back up the target, generate the script, and review it in SSMS. Compare does not auto-execute scripts against production.
Typical Workflows
Deploy Development Changes to Staging
- Connect Dev as Source, Staging as Target
- Run Schema Compare
- Select only the objects you intend to deploy
- Generate, review, and execute the sync script on Staging
Audit Production vs DR
- Connect Production as Source, DR as Target
- Run Schema Compare, then Discover + Data Compare on critical tables
- Investigate any Modified / Source Only / Target Only results
Post-Deployment Validation
- Before deployment: compare and note outstanding differences
- After deployment: re-run Compare and confirm differences are resolved