Azure SQL VM Backup Automation Change

Question

I have an Azure SQL VM and it is running automated backup of user databases every 5 minutes. I can't seem to identify where the automation is running from only see Managed Backup and it runs and saves to Azure storage account. No disaster recovery is setup for this test server. Any suggestions on what process could be doing this maintenance and how to update it? It just started May of this year.

Answer 1

Hello Cherise D Woods,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A and thank you for posting your questions here.

Problem

I understand that your Azure SQL VM is performing automated backups, but you're not sure about the source of this automation.

Solution

To solve these challenges, let's start from the top:

1. Automated Backup allows you to schedule regular backups for all databases on a SQL Server VM. These backups are stored in an Azure storage account. Start from SQL Server 2014 and later. Though, SQL Server 2016 and later allows you to configure manual scheduling and adjust the frequency of full and log backups. The backups are retained for up to 30 days, and it happens that the SQL Server IaaS Agent Extension, automatically installed on SQL Server Windows VM images in Azure, handles the backups.
2. Secondly, Azure Backup provides an enterprise-class backup capability for SQL Server on Azure VMs. It allows centralized management of backups for multiple servers and thousands of databases. From SQL Server 2012 and later, and also happens that Azure Backup integrates with your VMs and handles backups centrally.
3. Finally, depending on your SQL Server version, you can manually back up and restore SQL Server on Azure VM.

Therefore, to identify which method is being used, check the followings:

• In your Azure Portal, check for the presence of the SQL Server IaaS Agent Extension (for Automated Backup) or the Azure Backup configuration (for Azure Backup).
  • Sign in to the Azure portal.
  • Navigate to your **SQL Server VM.
  • Look for the SQL Server IaaS Agent Extension in the VM settings.
  • https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/sql-server-iaas-agent-extension-automate-management?view=azuresql
• In your SQL Server Configuration, review the SQL Server Agent jobs or any custom scripts that might be triggering backups. https://www.databasejournal.com/ms-sql/automated-backups-of-sql-server-databases-in-azure-iaas-vms
• Also, in your Azure Portal, navigate to Azure Backup Center, check if your VM is configured there. The default policy backs up VMs once a day. So, check if Recovery Services vault is created and check the backup policy that was assigned. Using the above links too.

References

The links provided are useful for more reading and step by steps detail instructions, also use the additional resources provided by the right side of this page.

Accept Answer

I hope this is helpful! Do not hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions.

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Best Regards,

Sina Salam