Tutorial / Cram Notes
Azure Backup is a service that provides cloud-based, secure, and scalable backup solutions for Azure resources as well as on-premises assets. It supports various data sources such as Azure Virtual Machines, SQL Server, Azure File shares, and on-premises VMware machines.
Understanding Azure Backup
Azure Backup uses Recovery Services vaults to manage the backup and restore operations for different workloads. A Recovery Services vault is a storage entity in Azure that houses the backup data for various resources.
Preparing for Backup Operations
Before performing a backup operation, you’ll need to:
- Create a Recovery Services vault: From the Azure portal, create a new Recovery Services vault in the desired region, associated with your Azure subscription.
- Discover workloads: Depending on what needs to be backed up, you may need to deploy the Azure Backup agent or the Azure Backup Server for on-premises or IaaS VM backups.
- Define your backup policy: This includes setting the backup frequency and retention period.
Example: Backing Up an Azure VM
- Inside the Azure portal, navigate to the virtual machine you want to back up.
- Select the Operations section and click on the option ‘Backup’.
- If not already associated, select a pre-existing Recovery Services vault or create a new one.
- Configure the backup policy by setting the backup frequency and retention duration.
- Enable backup. Azure will schedule the backups according to the policy you defined.
Monitoring Backup Jobs
- Monitor backup jobs through the Recovery Services vault.
- Access monitoring and alerts from the vault’s dashboard to keep track of backup operations and identify any issues.
Performing Restore Operations
- Navigate to your Recovery Services vault in the Azure portal.
- Select ‘Backup Items’ and choose the workload type you want to restore.
- Identify the specific item and select it to view its recovery points.
- Select the appropriate recovery point and click on ‘Restore’ to initiate the process.
Example: Restoring Files from an Azure VM Backup
- In the Recovery Services vault, click on ‘Backup items’ and select ‘Azure Virtual Machine’.
- Choose the VM that contains the files you need to restore.
- Browse the available recovery points and select the most appropriate.
- Opt for File Recovery to trigger a script download, which you need to run on any machine to mount the backup as a local drive. Then, copy the files you need.
Comparison Table of Azure Backup Features
| Feature | Azure VMs | Azure Files | SQL in Azure VM | SAP HANA in Azure VM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backup Frequency | Daily | Hourly/Daily | Up to 15-min log backup | 15-min log backup |
| Retention Duration | Up to 9999 days | Up to 180 days | Up to 10 years | Up to 35 days |
| Encryption | Azure-managed keys | Azure-managed keys | Customer-managed keys | Customer-managed keys |
| Instant Restore | Available | Not Available | Available | Available |
| Restore to Different Region | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Restore to Different Workload | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Best Practices
- Regularly test restores to validate backup data and recoverability.
- Review backup reports and analytics for insights into the health and status of your backups.
- Implement the 3-2-1 backup rule: have at least three total copies of your data, two of which are local but on different devices, and one copy offsite (in Azure).
- Secure your backups by enabling Multi-Factor Authentication on your Recovery Services vault to prevent unauthorized access.
By using Azure Backup, Azure Administrators can ensure that their workloads and data are protected and can easily be restored in the event of data loss or corruption. It is an essential component in any organization’s disaster recovery plan.
Practice Test with Explanation
Azure Backup supports backup for on-premises servers, Azure Virtual Machines (VMs), SQL databases in Azure VMs, Azure file shares, and more.
- (A) True
- (B) False
Answer: A
Explanation: Azure Backup is a versatile backup service that supports various data sources including on-premises servers, Azure VMs, SQL databases in Azure VMs, and Azure file shares.
What Azure feature is used to manage backup policies and monitor backup jobs in a central location?
- (A) Azure Monitor
- (B) Azure Security Center
- (C) Azure Backup center
- (D) Azure Automation
Answer: C
Explanation: Azure Backup center is a unified management experience that facilitates managing your backups at scale by monitoring backup jobs and managing backup policies across various Azure services.
Which of the following is a feature of Azure Backup?
- (A) Encryption of data at rest and in transit
- (B) Long-term retention for up to 99 years
- (C) Geo-redundant storage
- (D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: Azure Backup provides encryption of data at rest and in transit, offers long-term retention up to 99 years, and allows the choice of locally redundant or geo-redundant storage for backups.
Azure Site Recovery can be used to perform backup operations.
- (A) True
- (B) False
Answer: B
Explanation: Azure Site Recovery is intended for disaster recovery and business continuity strategies. It cannot be used to perform regular backup operations; that’s what Azure Backup is for.
Which Azure service should be deployed to enable multi-user backup for Azure Files?
- (A) Azure Site Recovery
- (B) Azure File Sync
- (C) Azure Recovery Services vault
- (D) Azure Blob Storage
Answer: C
Explanation: Azure Recovery Services vault is used in Azure Backup to manage and store backups, including the backup of Azure Files with multi-user support.
Instant recovery of files and folders is not possible using Azure Backup.
- (A) True
- (B) False
Answer: B
Explanation: Azure Backup offers the capability to instantly restore files and folders without restoring the entire VM, improving recovery time objectives.
Which of these resources is required to be created before configuring Azure VM backup?
- (A) Azure Recovery Services vault
- (B) Azure Storage account
- (C) Virtual Network
- (D) Azure Automation account
Answer: A
Explanation: Before configuring Azure VM backup, an Azure Recovery Services vault needs to be created to store the backups.
What is a backup policy in Azure Backup?
- (A) A set of rules that govern retention and backup schedules
- (B) A document that outlines the organization’s backup procedures
- (C) A configuration that connects on-premises servers to Azure
- (D) A rule set defining network security for backup traffic
Answer: A
Explanation: A backup policy in Azure Backup is a set of rules that define how often backups occur and how long backups are retained.
Azure Backup requires the installation of an agent on VMs running in Azure.
- (A) True
- (B) False
Answer: B
Explanation: Azure VMs can be backed up directly from the Azure portal without the installation of a backup agent.
Point-in-time restore is available for which of the following Azure services:
- (A) Azure Blobs
- (B) Azure Files
- (C) Azure Virtual Machines
- (D) Azure SQL Database
Answer: D
Explanation: Azure SQL Database offers point-in-time restore capabilities, allowing you to restore your database to a specific point in time.
VMware VMs can be backed up directly to Azure without requiring any on-premises infrastructure.
- (A) True
- (B) False
Answer: B
Explanation: To back up VMware VMs to Azure, you require an on-premises infrastructure component such as an Azure Backup Server or Azure Backup Agent.
You can only use Azure Backup to back up data within the Azure region where your Recovery Services vault resides.
- (A) True
- (B) False
Answer: B
Explanation: Azure Backup allows the storage of backups in a different region from the Recovery Services vault for disaster recovery purposes, using geo-redundant storage.
Interview Questions
What is Azure Backup?
Azure Backup is a cloud-based backup solution that allows you to protect your data and applications in the event of an outage or disaster.
What types of data and applications can be backed up with Azure Backup?
Azure Backup supports backing up a wide range of data and applications, including files and folders, virtual machines, SQL Server databases, and more.
How do you perform a quick backup of a virtual machine using the Azure portal?
To perform a quick backup of a virtual machine using the Azure portal, you can follow these steps Navigate to the Backup and Site Recovery blade in the Azure portal. > Select the virtual machine you want to back up. > Click on the Backup button and follow the prompts to configure the backup settings.
Can you restore a virtual machine from an Azure Backup recovery point?
Yes, you can restore a virtual machine from an Azure Backup recovery point. You can use the Azure portal, Azure PowerShell, or the Azure CLI to restore a virtual machine.
How do you restore a disk using Azure Backup?
To restore a disk using Azure Backup, you can follow these steps
Navigate to the Backup and Site Recovery blade in the Azure portal.
Select the recovery services vault that contains the backup you want to restore.
Navigate to the Backup Items tab and select the item you want to restore.
Click on the Restore button and follow the prompts to restore the disk.
How does Azure Backup protect against ransomware?
Azure Backup can protect against ransomware by creating an air-gapped backup copy of your data that is isolated from your production environment. This ensures that your backups are not affected by ransomware attacks.
What is a backup policy in Azure Backup?
A backup policy in Azure Backup is a set of rules that dictate when and how often backups are taken. You can use backup policies to configure backup frequency, retention period, and more.
How do you create a backup policy in Azure Backup?
To create a backup policy in Azure Backup, you can follow these steps
Navigate to the Backup and Site Recovery blade in the Azure portal.
Select the recovery services vault that contains the backup you want to configure.
Navigate to the Backup Policies tab and click on the Add button to create a new backup policy.
Follow the prompts to configure the backup policy settings.
Can you perform a backup and restore of an on-premises virtual machine using Azure Backup?
Yes, you can perform a backup and restore of an on-premises virtual machine using Azure Backup. You will need to install the Azure Backup agent on the virtual machine and configure the backup settings.
What types of restore operations are available in Azure Backup?
Azure Backup supports several types of restore operations, including file and folder restore, virtual machine restore, application item restore, and disk restore.
Does Azure Backup offer any support for restoring SQL databases specifically?
How is the data secured during the backup and restore processes in Azure?
Great post!
What are the cost implications of using Azure Backup for extensive backup operations?
Can Azure Backup be used for on-premises systems?
Incredible detail.
During a restore operation, can we choose which snapshots to restore from?
I had some issues with the restore operation timing out. Any advice?