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Labs

Configure a Backup Policy for an Azure Virtual Machine

Azure Backup is a Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) solution that supports a range of different workloads. Within this hands-on lab, you will have the opportunity to gain experience configuring Azure Backup for a virtual machine. You will be using the virtual machine direct method.

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Lab platform
Lab Info
Level
Beginner
Last updated
Sep 24, 2025
Duration
30m

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Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Create a Recovery Services Vault

    Use the Azure portal to perform the following tasks. Please log in with the credentials provided to you for this lab.

    Please take note of the region in use for all of the resources that have been deployed for you, as we will need to use the same region in the following steps.

    To create a Recovery Services vault:

    1. Create the Recovery Services vault with the following settings:
      • Subscription: Select the existing subscription.
      • Resource group: Select the existing resource group.
      • Name: vault1
      • Region: Select the region in use for your existing resources.
    2. Click Review + create and then Create.
  2. Challenge

    Create a Backup Policy
    1. Once the Recovery Services Vault deployment is complete, navigate to the vault you just created.
    2. Navigate to Backup policies in the menu on the left-hand side.
    3. Add a new policy with a policy type of Azure Virtual Machine and a policy sub-type of Standard
    4. Create a policy with the following settings:
      • Policy name: NightlyVMBackup
      • Frequency: Daily
      • Time: 9:00 PM
      • Timezone: Select your own timezone.
      • Instant Restore: 1 Day(s)
      • Retention range:
        • Retention of daily backup point: Leave checked by default and set it for 7 Day(s).
        • Retention of weekly/monthly/yearly backup point: Leave unchecked.
      • Azure Backup Resource Group: Leave blank.
  3. Challenge

    Enable Backups for VM1
    1. Navigate to the virtual machine, vm1, which has been created for you.
    2. Select Backup in the left menu.
    3. Configure the backup with the following settings:
      • Recovery Services vault: Choose the vault you created.
      • Choose backup policy: Choose the policy you create.
    4. Click Enable Backup.

    Additional Information

    Azure Backup for virtual machines direct is a very simple process to enable. So the steps you've completed above are all that is required.

    If you are configuring backups in your own environment, you might choose to:

    • Force a backup, using Backup now
    • Perform a VM restore, using Restore VM
    • Recover data, using File Recovery

    Note that the backup and restore experience is different, depending on the Azure Backup solution you use. Azure Backup includes several other agents for different workloads and scenarios.

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