Backups you can count on with Azure Backup.
Azure Backup protects your servers, databases and file shares with encrypted, monitored backups, and safeguards against deletion and ransomware. We configure it and prove it works.
What Azure Backup covers
What is Azure Backup?
Azure Backup is Microsoft’s managed backup service. It takes copies of virtual machines, databases, file shares and other data, stores them in a protected vault, and lets you restore them when something goes wrong.
It can protect workloads in Azure and servers in your office. For office servers, an agent or a backup server sends data to Azure, replacing tape and local backup appliances.
Backups matter most on the worst day. A backup that has never been tested, is stored where an attacker can delete it, or is missing a key system is a false comfort. Azure Backup gives the tools, and we provide the design, monitoring and test restores.
Backups are stored in a vault: a Recovery Services vault or a Backup vault. The vault has its own access control, encryption and retention rules, separate from the machines it protects. That separation is what makes it resilient to attacks on the servers themselves.
Backup policies define when backups run, how long each is kept, and which restore points exist. A typical policy keeps daily, weekly, monthly and yearly copies to meet both operational and compliance needs.
What Azure Backup can do.
Azure VM backup
Application consistent snapshots of VMs, with instant restore from recent snapshots.
SQL Server and other workloads
Database aware backup for SQL Server running in a VM and other supported workloads.
Azure Files and blob backup
Protect cloud file shares and blob data with point in time restore.
On premises backup
Back up Windows servers and files with the MARS agent or a Microsoft Azure Backup Server.
Soft delete
Deleted backups are retained for a period, so an attacker or a mistake cannot remove them at once.
Immutable vaults and multi-user approval
Prevent changes to backups and require a second approval for critical operations.
Cross region restore
Restore into a paired region if the primary region is unavailable.
Monitoring and alerts
Reports and alerts show failed jobs and gaps in coverage.
How Azure Backup works.
Scope
List systems to protect and decide recovery objectives.
Configure
Create vaults, policies, retention and security controls.
Protect
Enrol machines and data sources and run the first backups.
Prove
Test restores regularly and monitor reports and alerts.
What happens behind the scenes.
For an Azure VM, the backup service takes a snapshot using the VM extension and transfers the changes to the vault. Recent snapshots are kept close for fast restore, and older recovery points are in the vault. You can restore a whole VM, individual disks or specific files.
For servers at the office, an agent sends encrypted data to the vault over the internet. Retention, compression and encryption are controlled by the policy, and the encryption keys stay with you. Role based access control and multi-user authorization limit who can delete or change backups.
How it benefits your business.
The impact of good backup is simple: when something fails, gets deleted or is encrypted by ransomware, you can recover. Without it, a bad day can be the end of a business.
Azure Backup also reduces operational burden. There are no tapes to rotate, no backup servers to patch, and no storage to grow. Reports show what is protected, and alerts show what failed.
Features such as soft delete and immutability address a modern threat: attackers who target backups first. A backup they cannot erase is a recovery option they cannot take away.
The benefits at a glance.
Recover from deletion and ransomware
Protected, immutable restore points.
No tapes or appliances
Managed service replaces local backup hardware.
Backup for many workloads
VMs, SQL, files and office servers.
Encrypted and monitored
Encryption, reports and alerts.
Meet retention requirements
Daily to yearly retention policies.
Data stays in Canada
Vaults in Canadian regions.
Pricing: Billed per protected instance plus the backup storage used, which depends on data size, change rate and retention. Azure prices and features change, so we confirm current pricing and design to a budget before you commit.
What this looks like day to day.
A company’s file server is encrypted by ransomware. Because Infinity configured Azure Backup with immutability and soft delete, the attackers cannot delete the backups. The team restores the server from a point the previous night, and the business is back by lunchtime.
This is an illustrative example of how the service is used, not a description of a specific client.
Mistakes we see, and how we avoid them.
Never testing a restore
A backup that fails on the day is worthless. Test regularly.
Backups reachable with the same admin account
If one stolen account can delete the servers and the backups, both are lost. Separate access.
Short retention
Problems often go unnoticed for weeks. Choose retention that matches business and legal needs.
Missing systems
New servers are often added without being protected. Review coverage regularly.
Azure Backup with Infinity.
Backup strategy
Recovery objectives, retention and scope agreed with you.
Learn moreVault and policy setup
Vaults, policies and hardened access.
Learn moreAzure and on premises coverage
VMs, SQL, Azure Files and office servers.
Learn moreMonitoring and reporting
Daily checks of jobs and monthly reports.
Learn moreRestore testing
Scheduled test restores with documented results.
Learn morePair with site recovery
Backup plus failover for critical systems.
Learn moreIs Azure Backup the same as Azure Site Recovery?
No. Backup keeps point in time copies for restoring data. Site Recovery replicates machines to another location for failover. Many businesses use both.
Can it back up our office servers?
Yes. Windows servers and files at your office can be backed up to Azure with an agent or a backup server.
Does it back up Microsoft 365?
Not in the same way. Microsoft 365 data needs a dedicated backup solution, which we also provide.
What if ransomware tries to delete the backups?
Soft delete, immutable vaults and multi-user approval make that much harder. We configure them.
How often should we test restores?
At least quarterly for critical systems. We schedule and document tests.
Talk to us about Azure Backup.
Book a free consultation. We will look at your current setup and show you where it fits.
Tell us about your IT.
We answer almost every inquiry within one business day.