azure-backup

What this skill does

# 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 Azure Backup errors across VMs, disks, databases (SQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SAP), files/blobs, AKS, MARS/MABS/DPM, vault/agent issues, and restore/FLR/monitoring problems. |
| Best Practices | L71-L82 | Best practices for backing up and restoring Hyper-V VMs, SQL Server (including Always On), Exchange, and Azure VMs using DPM/MABS and Azure Backup, with TRIM and safety considerations. |
| Decision Making | L83-L90 | Guidance on planning Azure Backup costs, checking supported VM SKUs, choosing reserved capacity for savings, and migrating classic backup alerts to Azure Monitor. |
| Architecture & Design Patterns | L91-L95 | 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 | L96-L132 | Backup limits, quotas, support matrices, and regional constraints for Azure workloads (VMs, databases, files, disks, AKS, SAP, etc.), plus monitoring metrics and reporting boundaries. |
| Security | L133-L174 | Securing Azure Backup with encryption, RBAC, managed identities, private endpoints, soft delete, immutability, MUA/Resource Guard, and policies for ransomware protection and compliant restores. |
| Configuration | L175-L253 | Configuring Azure Backup and policies for VMs, AKS, SQL, SAP HANA, Files, Blobs, Disks, AD, and on-prem agents, plus monitoring, diagnostics, reporting, and Backup Center governance. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L254-L310 | 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 | L311-L317 | MABS v3/v4 deployment details: supported workload/protection matrices and how to automate unattended/silent installation of Azure Backup Server v4. |

### 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 alert 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/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-mysql-flexible-server-troubleshoot |
| Fix SAP HANA database backup errors on Azure VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-sap-hana-database-troubleshoot |
| Troubleshoot System Center DPM with Azure Backup integration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-scdpm-troubleshooting |
| Resolve System State Backup issues with Azure Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-system-state-troubleshoot |
| Troubleshoot Azure Blob backup and restore failures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-troubleshoot-blob-backup |
| Diagnose slow file and folder backups with Azure Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-troubleshoot-slow-backup-performance-issue |
| Resolve Azure Backup agent and extension failures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-troubleshoot-vm-backup-fails-snapshot-timeout |
| Troubleshoot Azure VM file-level recovery issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-vm-file-recovery-troubleshoot |
| Fix Azure VM backup and restore errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-vms-troubleshoot |
| Troubleshoot Microsoft Azure Backup Server v3 issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-mabs-release-notes-v3 |
| Troubleshoot SQL Server backups on Azure VMs using Azure Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-sql-server-azure-troubleshoot |
| Troubleshoot Backup vault management errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-vault-troubleshoot |
| Resolve common issues with Azure Blob Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/blob-backup-faq |
| Resolve common issues with Azure Disk Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/disk-backup-faq |
| Fix backup and restore failures in Azure Disk Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/disk-backup-troubleshoot |
| Troubleshoot SAP HANA database instance backups on Azure VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/sap-hana-database-instance-troubleshoot |
| Troubleshoot Azure Backup archive tier recovery point errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/troubleshoot-archive-tier |
| Troubleshoot Azure Files backup and restore with Azure Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/troubleshoot-azure-files |
| Troubleshoot SAP ASE (Sybase) database backups using Azure Backup | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/troubleshoot-sap-ase-sybase-database-backup |

### Best Practices
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Back up and restore Hyper-V VMs with MABS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/back-up-hyper-v-virtual-machines-mabs |
| Recover Azure Backup Server data from any vault-registe