In one embodiment, a computer accessible medium comprises a plurality of instructions that may be executed during a restore operation of a database to a computer system. A first instance of the database is included in backup data being restored and a second instance of the database exists on the computer system. When executed, the instructions process one or more first keys of the second instance that identify one or more second keys of the second instance. The identified second keys are to be preserved in the database subsequent to the restore operation. If the computer system's hardware is equivalent to hardware of a source of the backup data, the instructions, when executed, process a third key that overrides a preservation of at least one of the second keys. In another embodiment, the third key takes precedence over the first keys if a conflict exists between the first keys and the third key.