Configuring Azure Backup Retention

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To back up the files and folders on an on-premises Windows Server to Azure, you can use Azure Backup. Azure Backup is a reliable and cost-effective backup solution that allows you to protect your data off-site and enable fast and reliable recovery when needed.

To configure retention for backups created by Azure Backup, you need to use a Recovery Services vault. A Recovery Services vault is an Azure Resource Manager resource that provides a storage location for backup data, as well as a mechanism for managing backup policies and monitoring backup and restore operations.

Here's how you can configure retention for backups created by Azure Backup using a Recovery Services vault:

1. Create a Recovery Services vault in the Azure portal:

   • In the Azure portal, navigate to the Recovery Services vaults page and click Add.
   • In the Create Recovery Services vault blade, specify a name, subscription, resource group, and location for the vault. You can also choose to enable or disable backup replication, depending on your requirements.
   • Click Create to create the vault.

2. Install and configure the Azure Backup agent on Server1:

   • Download and install the Azure Backup agent on Server1.
   • Register the agent with the Recovery Services vault by providing the vault credentials.

3. Define a backup policy for Server1:

   • In the Recovery Services vault, navigate to the Backup Policies page and click Add.
   • Specify a name for the policy and choose the backup frequency, retention range, and time zone.
   • You can also specify advanced backup options such as encryption, compression, and retention settings for application-consistent backups.
   • Click Create to create the policy.

4. Back up files and folders on Server1:

   • In the Azure Backup agent, choose the files and folders you want to back up.
   • Specify the backup policy to use for the backup.
   • Click Backup Now to start the backup operation.

By default, Azure Backup retains backups for 30 days. However, you can configure the retention range in the backup policy to meet your specific requirements. For example, you can retain backups for up to 99 years, depending on the backup frequency and retention range you choose.

In summary, to configure retention for backups created by Azure Backup, you need to use a Recovery Services vault and define a backup policy that specifies the retention range.