The Changing Landscape of Azure App Service Backups

Microsoft recently announced a significant change in how Azure App Services handle disaster recovery. According to Microsoft’s update, they will no longer automatically place web apps in disaster recovery mode. This change means organizations need to take a more proactive approach to managing their App Service backups.

Why This Matters

Previously, Microsoft automatically handled some aspects of disaster recovery for Azure App Services. With this change:

  • Organizations must implement their own disaster recovery strategies
  • Custom backup configurations become more critical
  • Regular monitoring of backup status is essential
  • The responsibility for ensuring data safety shifts more to the organization

The Challenge: Managing Multiple App Services

For organizations with multiple Azure subscriptions and App Services, manually checking backup configurations can be:

  • Time-consuming
  • Error-prone
  • Resource-intensive
  • Difficult to maintain

Introducing: Azure App Services Backup Status Checker

To help organizations address this challenge, we’ve developed a PowerShell script that automates the process of checking backup configurations across all your Azure App Services.

Key Features

  1. Comprehensive Scanning

    • Checks all accessible Azure subscriptions
    • Scans every resource group
    • Identifies all App Services

  2. Detailed Reporting

    • Backup status (Enabled/Disabled)
    • Backup frequency
    • Retention period
    • App Service status

  3. Easy to Use

    • Simple PowerShell execution
    • Clear, formatted output
    • CSV export capability

How It Works

The script uses Azure PowerShell cmdlets to:

  1. Authenticate with Azure
  2. List all subscriptions
  3. Scan resource groups
  4. Check backup configurations
  5. Generate detailed reports

Getting Started

Install Azure PowerShell:

Install-Module -Name Az -AllowClobber -Scope CurrentUser

Execute the backup checker:

./custombackup.ps1

Review Results:

  • Check the summary statistics
  • Review detailed App Service information
  • Export to CSV for further analysis

Best Practices for App Service Backups

  1. Regular Monitoring

    • Run the backup checker regularly
    • Document backup configurations
    • Review and update backup policies

  2. Backup Configuration

    • Set appropriate backup frequency
    • Configure retention periods
    • Test backup restoration

  3. Documentation

    • Maintain backup policies
    • Document recovery procedures
    • Keep track of changes

Next Steps

  1. Download the Azure App Services Backup Status Checker
  2. Review your current backup configurations
  3. Implement necessary changes
  4. Set up regular monitoring

Conclusion

With Microsoft’s recent changes to App Service disaster recovery, organizations need to take a more active role in managing their backups. Our backup checker tool simplifies this process, helping you ensure all your App Services are properly protected.

Remember: The deadline for implementing disaster recovery strategies is March 31, 2025. Don’t wait until the last minute to check your backup configurations.

Note: This tool is open-source and available on GitHub. Feel free to contribute or suggest improvements!