Configure continuous backup and recovery

To configure continuous backup and recovery in Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB for your native applications, you can utilize the built-in automated backups and enable point-in-time restore features. These features help ensure data durability and provide a recovery option in case of accidental deletes or corruptions. This article will guide you through the process of setting up continuous backup and recovery in Azure Cosmos DB.

Automated Backups in Azure Cosmos DB:

Azure Cosmos DB provides automated backups at no additional cost. The platform takes periodic backups of your database, capturing changes made to the data. These backups are retained for a configurable period, giving you the flexibility to recover the data to any point within that retention period.

To configure automated backups for your Azure Cosmos DB account, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Azure portal (portal.azure.com) and locate your Azure Cosmos DB account.

2. In the left-hand menu, click on “Backup” under the “Settings” section.

3. On the “Backup” page, click “Enable” to turn on automated backups.

4. Specify the backup retention period by setting the desired value in the “Retention (days)” field. You can choose a value between 1 and 30 days.

5. Click “Save” to save the changes.

With automated backups enabled, Azure Cosmos DB will automatically take periodic snapshots of your data, ensuring your data is protected against accidental deletes or corruptions.

Point-in-Time Restore:

In addition to automated backups, Azure Cosmos DB also provides a point-in-time restore feature. This feature allows you to recover your data to any specific point in time within the automated backup retention period.

To enable point-in-time restore for your Azure Cosmos DB account, follow these steps:

1. In the Azure portal, navigate to your Azure Cosmos DB account.

2. Click on “Restore and Backup” under the “Settings” section.

3. On the “Restore and Backup” page, toggle the “Point in time restore” button to enable the feature.

4. Click “Save” to save the changes.

Note: Enabling point-in-time restore may incur additional costs, so it is important to review the pricing details on the Azure Cosmos DB pricing page.

Using the Azure Portal, you can initiate a point-in-time restore by specifying the exact time or selecting one of the available restore points. This flexibility allows you to recover data to a specific state, giving you granular control over your application’s recovery process.

Code Sample – Restoring Data from a Point-in-Time:

Here’s an example of how you can restore data from a specific point-in-time using the Azure portal and the SQL API:

By performing the steps mentioned above, you can easily restore your data to a specific point-in-time, helping you recover from any accidental data loss or corruption.

Conclusion:

Configuring continuous backup and recovery for your Azure Cosmos DB native applications is crucial to ensure data durability and availability. By enabling automated backups and point-in-time restore, you can protect your data against accidental deletes, corruptions, or other unforeseen circumstances. Leveraging the built-in features of Azure Cosmos DB, you can focus on building robust and reliable applications without worrying about data loss.