Configure backup for an App Service

1. Overview Of Azure App Service Backup

Azure App Service Backup allows you to create automated backups for your web apps, APIs, and mobile backends in Azure App Service. Backups can include associated application files, configuration settings, and the Azure SQL Database or MySQL data linked to your applications. The backups can be configured to take place on a schedule and keep up to a specified number of backups.

2. Setting Up Azure App Service Backup

Before you can set up a backup for an App Service, ensure the following requirements are met:

• The App Service plan must be in the B1 (Basic), Standard, Premium, or Isolated tier.
• You need either an Azure Storage account or Azure Managed disk to hold the backups.

Once these requirements are in place, you can follow these steps to set up a backup:

1. In the Azure portal, find the App Service you want to back up.
2. In the menu on the left, click on ‘Backups’ under ‘Settings.’
3. Click on ‘Configure’ to open the configuration blade.
4. Select a Storage Account or a Managed Disk where you’d like to store your backups.
5. Set your Backup schedule. This defines the frequency of backups and how many backups are stored before the oldest backup is deleted.
6. Click on ‘Save’ to complete the configuration.

3. Restoring from a Backup

If you ever need to restore your application from a backup, here are the steps you can follow:

1. Navigate to the App Service you want to restore in the Azure portal.
2. Click on ‘Backups’ under ‘Settings’ in the left-side menu.
3. In the backup list, find the backup you want to restore from and click on the ‘…’ menu on the right.
4. Click ‘Restore’ to start the restoration process.

During restoration, you can choose to overwrite the existing app or create a new app.

4. Monitoring Backup Operations

Monitoring is key in any backup system. To check the status of backup operations in Azure, go to the ‘Backups’ section in the App Service settings. You’ll be able to see when the last backup was, and whether there were any issues. You can use this information for troubleshooting if something goes wrong with your backup operation.

In conclusion, as an Azure Administrator, understanding how to configure, manage, and restore Azure App Service Backups can save you a lot of trouble in case of accidental data loss or system failure. Therefore, it’s not only a critical topic for the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator exam but also a vital skill for effective Azure management.

Practice Test

In Azure, you can restore a backup to the same app without any loss of data. True/False.

• True
• False

Answer: False.

Explanation: Restoring a backup will overwrite the existing app. It’s extremely important to ensure that there is no essential data in the app that could potentially be lost during the restore process.

Azure provides an automatic backup facility for App Services. True/False.

• True
• False

Answer: False.

Explanation: Azure doesn’t provide automatic backups. The Azure administrator is responsible for manually configuring and scheduling backups.

To enable backups for an Azure app service, it must be in the Standard, Premium, or Isolated pricing tier. True/False.

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: App service backups are not supported in the Free and Shared pricing tiers. Thus, to configure backups, an App Service should be in either the Standard, Premium, or Isolated tier.

Azure App Service Backups could be configured to store in Azure Blob Storage. True/False.

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: For storing the backup files, Azure offers the facility to use Azure Blob Storage, where the backups will be saved as BLOB in .zip format.

While configuring backup for App Service, it’s mandatory to set the frequency and time. True/False.

• True
• False

Answer: False.

Explanation: It’s not mandatory to set the frequency and time while configuring the backup. However, it’s a best practice to set these according to the backup policy.

Which of the following databases can be backed up with Azure App Services?

• A. MySQL
• B. PostgreSQL
• C. MS SQL
• D. CosmosDB

Answer: C. MS SQL.

Explanation: As of now, Azure App Services only supports backing up SQL Server databases.

You are allowed to initiate manual backups for the app service irrespective of its pricing tier. True/False.

• True
• False

Answer: False.

Explanation: Manual backups work only if the app service plan is at least B1 (the Basic tier).

Restoring a backup of an App Service will automatically restore the linked databases as well. True/False.

• True
• False

Answer: False.

Explanation: Even though an app’s backup may contain database backups, restoring an app from a backup doesn’t automatically restore its linked databases. Databases must be restored separately.

What is the maximum number of backups that can be stored in Azure App Service Backups?

• A. 10
• B. 50
• C. 100
• D. 200

Answer: C. 100

Explanation: Azure App Service backup can hold up to 100 backups per app. Old backups could be automatically deleted if the limit is met.

We can delete individual backups of an App Service. True/False.

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: Yes, we can delete individual backups of an App Service.

What is the maximum size of a single backup stored in Azure App Service Backup?

• A. 1 GB
• B. 10 GB
• C. 100 GB
• D. 1 TB

Answer: B. 10 GB

Explanation: Each backup made through Azure App Service Backup can be up to 10 GB. This includes the web content and the database together.

Can we restore a backup on a different region than the App service was originated from?

• A. Yes.
• B. No.

Answer: A. Yes.

Explanation: Though the backup is taken from a specific region, Azure App Service allows you to restore it on a different region.

Can we use Azure Backup Service as a substitution for App Service Backup?

• A. Yes.
• B. No.

Answer: B. No.

Explanation: Azure Backup service is not compatible with App Service. For App Service, we have to use App Service Backup feature.

What should be specified while creating a Backup Configuration in App Service?

• A. Backup Storage Account.
• B. Databases to Backup.
• C. Backup frequency and time.
• D. All of the above.

Answer: D. All of the above.

Explanation: While creating a Backup Configuration, Azure expects you to specify a storage account for storing backup, databases associated with the App Service that you wish to backup, frequency of backup and preferred time of backup.

You can only restore data in an App Service from a backup configured using the App Service backup feature. True/False.

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: Azure only allows restoration of data from Azure backup. Backing up Azure websites manually or using third party services will not provide the same reliability and seamless restore capabilities as Azure backup.

Interview Questions

What is Azure App Service Backup and how does it function?

Azure App Service Backup is a feature that allows users to manually or automatically back up app data to Azure Blob Storage. It can capture the file system content, database connected with the App Service, and configuration in snapshots.

Can you backup an App Service that uses the free tier in Azure?

No, the free tier does not include backup and restore functionality. The App Service Plan must be a Shared, Basic, Standard, Premium, or Isolated tier to access these features.

How often can an App Service be backed up?

Backups can be created manually or scheduled automatically to run at most every hour, in Shared, Basic, Standard, Premium or Isolated tiers.

What are the required elements to set up a backup for an App Service in Azure?

To set up the backup, you need an App Service that’s not on the Free tier, and an Azure Blob Storage container to store the backup.

How to restore the back up of an App Service?

You can restore the App Service by navigating to the

Backups

section under the

Settings

group, selecting the backup you want to restore, and clicking on

Restore

.

Can Azure App Service backup and restore feature be used to clone or migrate app services?

Yes, Azure App Service Backup and Restore functionality can be used for cloning or moving app services between different App Service plans, resource groups, or subscriptions.

How long are backup blobs stored in Azure Blob Storage?

Backup blobs are stored indefinitely. However, if the selected retention period passes, the system automatically deletes the backups.

How to configure automated backup for an App Service?

To set automated backups, navigate to the App Service page, go to the Backups section under settings, configure the storage account container, schedule and frequency, and click on Save.

Does the App Service backup also backup the application logs?

No, App Service backups do not include application logs.

Is there a limit to the number or size of backups you can create for an App Service?

Yes, the backup file size limit is 10 GB, and each App Service plan has a limit on the number of backups that can be taken based on the plan's level, up to 50 backups.

What is the role of the database in Azure App Service backup?

You can include a database, either Azure SQL or MySQL, while creating a backup. This is important if you want to backup data along with app content.

Do I need to stop the application to take a backup?

No, the application does not need to be stopped. It continues to run while a backup operation is ongoing.

Can I download the backup to store it locally?

Yes, it is possible to download the backup blob file if you have access to the Azure Blob Storage account where it is stored.

What is a Backup Configuration File?

A Backup Configuration File is in JSON format containing details of the Backup configuration in Azure App Service backups.

Why won't an App Service backup if the size is close to or larger than 10GB?

The backup limit for App Services is 10GB. If the content to be backed up is close to or larger than this limit, the backup operation may fail due to insufficient space.