Creating Backups for VMs in Azure

In this post, I’ll explain the three methods for backing up VMs in Azure.

The Three Methods #

Azure Backup Service #

The Azure Backup service is a managed solution for automating VM backups with policy-based retention. It simplifies the backup and restore process.

Steps:

1. Enable Backup:
   • Navigate to your VM in the Azure portal.
   • Select Backup under the VM’s settings.
   • Configure the Recovery Services Vault if you don’t already have one.
2. Define Backup Policy:
   • Choose a pre-existing backup policy or create a custom one.
   • Specify the backup frequency (daily, weekly, etc.) and retention duration.
3. Start Backup:
   • Once the policy is configured, initiate the first backup.

This is a great option if you want fully automated backups. It also supports long-term retention and is integrated with Azure for easy management and monitoring.

Snapshots #

Disk snapshots capture the state of a disk at a specific point in time. They are flexible and work well for manual or ad hoc backups. I give a detailed guide in this post here

Steps:

1. Create a Snapshot:
   • Navigate to the disk attached to your VM in the Azure portal.
   • Click Create Snapshot.
   • Choose the snapshot type (incremental or full).
2. Store the Snapshot:
   • Select the storage type (Standard or Premium).
   • Snapshots are stored in your Azure subscription.
3. Use the Snapshot:
   • Create a new managed disk from the snapshot to restore data or recover a VM.

Snapshots are cost-effective, especially with incremental storage. They’re quick to create and restore, making them ideal for ad hoc or immediate backups.

Exporting and Downloading #

This method involves exporting the VM’s disk(s) to a secure URL for manual download. It’s useful for maintaining local copies or transferring data outside Azure.

Steps:

1. Export the Disk:
   • Navigate to the disk in the Azure portal.
   • Click Export and generate a secure download URL.
   • Set the URL expiration time (e.g., 1 hour).
2. Download the Disk:
   • Use the secure URL to download the disk as a VHD file.
   • Store the VHD file locally or in another storage system.
3. Restore from the Disk:
   • Upload the VHD back to Azure or another environment if recovery is needed.
   • Create a new disk from the uploaded VHD and attach it to a VM.

This is a great option for ensuring an offline copy of your VM data. It’s useful for migrating data between environments and doesn’t rely on Azure-specific services.

Comparison of Methods #

Snapshot Guide #

The method I’ve chosen for my use case is Snapshots. I’ve used them throughout my Azure projects, and they’ve come in handy whenever I made configuration mistakes or needed to start over with a lab. For example, in the osTicket project, the installation process is lengthy. Instead of going through it every time, I would create a snapshot after finishing the installation. This allowed me to focus on the ticketing system rather than repeatedly setting up the application.

As outlined in the snapshot steps above, here’s how I used snapshots for backups:

Create the Backup #

Go to the VM you want to back up and navigate to the disk settings. There, you’ll see the option to create a snapshot.

Give the snapshot a name and make sure to select Incremental to save storage space and reduce costs.

Now, this is good so far. However, we can take an extra step and create a disk from the snapshot.

Ensure that the region is the same as the snapshot’s region. Once that’s done, you have a backup of your VM!

Restore from Backup #

The next time you want to restore to a previous point, simply use the created disk, swap it, and that’s it!

Conclusion #

Each method has its strengths:

• Azure Backup is best for automated, long-term solutions.
• Snapshots are ideal for quick, cost-effective point-in-time backups.
• Exporting Disks works well for manual backups or offline storage.

By understanding your needs—such as automation, retention, and cost—you can choose the best method for creating backups of your Azure VMs.