/azure-backup

name: azure-backup
description: Expert knowledge for Azure Backup development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when protecting Azure VMs, SQL/SAP HANA, AKS, Files/Blobs, or automating Azure Backup via CLI/PowerShell/REST, and other Azure Backup related development tasks. Not for Azure Site Recovery (use azure-site-recovery), Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-virtual-machines), Azure Virtual Network (use azure-virtual-network).
compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.
metadata:
  generated_at: "2026-08-02"
  generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"

Azure Backup Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Backup. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.

How to Use This Skill

> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: Use the **Category Index** below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., `L35-L120`), use `read_file` with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., `[security.md](security.md)`), use `read_file` on the linked reference file

> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: If `metadata.generated_at` is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If `mcp_microsoftdocs` tools are not available, suggest the user install it: [Installation Guide](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/blob/main/README.md)

This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:

• **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown.
• **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown.

Category Index

| Category | Lines | Description | |----------|-------|-------------| | Troubleshooting | L37-L70 | Diagnosing and fixing backup/restore errors, performance issues, and agent/extension problems across Azure Backup workloads (VMs, disks, databases, Kubernetes, Files, Blobs, SAP, MARS, DPM). | | Best Practices | L71-L81 | Best practices for securing Azure Backup data and configuring reliable backups/restores for Azure VMs, Hyper-V, SQL Always On, DPM/MABS workloads, and vault-registered servers. | | Decision Making | L82-L91 | Guidance on planning Azure Backup costs, choosing storage/reserved capacity, supported VM SKUs, crash-consistent and offline backup options, and migrating classic alerts to Azure Monitor. | | Architecture & Design Patterns | L92-L96 | Azure Backup’s architecture for protecting SAP HANA: components, data flow, backup/restore process, scalability, security, and integration with Azure storage and recovery services. | | Limits & Quotas | L97-L133 | Backup limits, quotas, support matrices, regions, and behaviors for Azure workloads (VMs, disks, files, blobs, databases, SAP, AKS), plus monitoring metrics and reporting constraints. | | Security | L134-L171 | Securing Azure Backup: encryption, RBAC/MIs, private endpoints, soft delete, ransomware protection, Azure Policy/MUA/Resource Guard, and secure restore of encrypted/Confidential/hybrid workloads. | | Configuration | L172-L258 | Configuring Azure Backup for VMs, AKS, SQL, SAP HANA, Files, Blobs, Disks, and on-prem agents; setting policies, diagnostics, monitoring, automation, and vault/immutability settings. | | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L259-L315 | Automating Azure Backup via CLI, PowerShell, REST, and scripts for VMs, SQL, PostgreSQL, Files, Blobs, Disks, MARS/on-prem, plus policies, vaults, jobs, restores, and security/reporting integrations. | | Deployment | L316-L323 | Guides for deploying and managing Azure Backup Server (MABS): backup of local VMs, supported workload matrices for v3/v4, automating silent installs, and stopping protection for workloads. |

Troubleshooting

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Diagnose and fix Azure Data Lake Storage backup errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/azure-data-lake-storage-backup-troubleshoot | | Troubleshoot Azure Kubernetes Service backups with Azure Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/azure-kubernetes-service-backup-troubleshoot | | Troubleshoot data recovery from Microsoft Azure Backup Server | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-alternate-dpm-server-troubleshoot | | Resolve Azure Backup Vault management errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-backup-vault-troubleshoot | | Resolve Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server backup and restore issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-database-postgresql-flex-troubleshoot | | Troubleshoot Azure Database for PostgreSQL backups with Azure Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-database-postgresql-troubleshoot | | Diagnose and fix encrypted Azure VM backup errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-encrypted-vm-troubleshoot | | Troubleshoot Azure Backup Server installation and workload protection | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-mabs-troubleshoot | | Resolve Azure Backup (MARS) agent installation and backup issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-mars-troubleshoot | | Resolve Azure Backup monitoring and reporting issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-monitor-alert-faq | | Fix Azure Backup monitoring and protection status issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-monitor-troubleshoot | | Troubleshoot Azure MySQL Flexible Server backups using Azure Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/e