Manually run a SQL Policy in Azure Backup

Joe Correia 1

I created a SQL policy in Azure backup that performs a Full DB backup every night at 11PM and also runs Hourly Log Backups.
The target SQL server has 14 databases on it, and I want to manually run a backup of the entire server.
It seems like I have to go to backup instances and select each DB individually and launch a backup. #NotOptimal

Is there a way to launch the SQL policy itself?

SadiqhAhmed-MSFT 37,686 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-11-03T16:27:06.547+00:00

@Joe Correia Thank you for posting your question on Microsoft Q&A community platform!

It seems like you are performing Azure SQL database backup. Please confirm it is a SQL Server on Azure VM and using Azure backup for VM or Azure SQL Database for long term retention.
Joe Correia 1 Reputation point

2022-11-03T16:42:12.063+00:00

Yes it is a SQL Server running on an Azure VM.
The policy is for Azure Backup for "SQL in Azure VM" option.
SadiqhAhmed-MSFT 37,686 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-11-04T04:24:41.793+00:00

Is there a way to launch the SQL policy itself?
As of today, there is no alternative.

However, you don’t have to select each DB, on the list with their backup items, you can use the menu button to the right and click backup now. That way you don’t have to go into each item and just go down the list.
Joe Correia 1 Reputation point

2022-11-05T16:24:26.743+00:00

Yes clicking on the button to the right is the method I have been using.
Gets tiresome when the SQL server has 55 databases on it tho. ;)
SadiqhAhmed-MSFT 37,686 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-11-21T11:01:01.55+00:00

@Joe Correia Sorry for the delayed response.

If you are looking at doing backup manually quite frequently, employing a script to trigger backup could also be a good idea. Check this link - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-sql-backup-cli#trigger-an-on-demand-backup