Database backups and restores are key to developing a secure environment for users’ information. A trusted backup plan is a requirement for on-premise and cloud instances.
SQL Server database backups in Azure, in either an IaaS or PaaS implementation, introduces a variety of features that may help optimize a backup plan.
Andrew McDermid, principal SQL Server DBA at Datavail, took part in a DBTA webinar focused on MS SQL database backups and restores in Azure, presenting users with their options and the drawbacks of different solutions.
A variety of different type of backups exists, he explained. These backups include native SQL full and log, local short-term, and remote long-term.
Then enterprises must dedicate Azure VM attached disks for database data, according to McDermid.
Management tools, such as Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer, AzCopy, PowerShell, and SQL Management Studio, can help companies configure how they want to save, backup, or restore information.
However, each one comes with its own set of drawbacks, he said.
After users choose their tools, the next step in this process is either using SQL Managed Backups or backing up to URL.
For those using SQL 2005 or SQL 2008, SQL Server Backup to Windows Azure tool can compress, encrypt, and backup databases, according to McDermid.
The last step in the process is to build a PowerShell backup to purge old backups from the storage account.
To view or listen to a replay of this DBTA webinar, go here.