/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, AKS, SQL/SAP HANA, Files/Blobs, or automating backups 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), Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets (use azure-vm-scalesets).
compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.
metadata:
  generated_at: "2026-09-13"
  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-L71 | Diagnosing and fixing backup/restore, agent, extension, and vault errors across Azure Backup workloads (VMs, disks, DBs, Kubernetes, Files, SAP, SQL, MABS/DPM), plus performance and status issues. | | Best Practices | L72-L82 | 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 | L83-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, regional support, behaviors, and support matrices for Azure workloads (VMs, SQL, PostgreSQL/MySQL, AKS, Files, Blobs, SAP, MARS/MABS/DPM), plus metrics, reports, and retention. | | Security | L134-L170 | Securing Azure Backup and AKS backups: RBAC and managed identities, CMK encryption, soft delete, private endpoints, MUA/Resource Guard, ransomware protection, and secure restore scenarios. | | Configuration | L171-L264 | Configuring, automating, and monitoring Azure Backup for VMs, AKS, SQL, SAP HANA, Files, Blobs, Cosmos DB, disks, and servers, including policies, diagnostics, reporting, and restore workflows. | | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L265-L321 | Scripts and API patterns for configuring, running, and restoring Azure Backup across VMs, disks, blobs, files, SQL/PostgreSQL, AKS, plus automation via CLI/PowerShell/REST/Logic Apps. | | Deployment | L322-L330 | Configuring and deploying Azure Blob backup via ARM/Bicep, plus MABS v3/v4 workload support matrices and guidance on stopping protection for specific 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 | h