Azure VM backup issue for archive option

Question

I am sure if i would have done this in aws then would have concluded in 1 hour max but here the case is different.
I have windows VM which i want to preserve in archive tier for 3 years to save cost and want to remove vm after taking back up. First i tried snapshot and then move it to vdh into archive tier as VHD. Issue with that is when i try to create new vm out of this vhd then i am unable to rdp into vm probably because my original hd is set with Security type: Trusted launch.

Then i shifted to azure backup vaults their you can take snapshot but again unfortunately i cannot force these snapshot points to be move to archive myself.

So, even for such small thing i am trapped because its azure lol. Can i get way out of things? Anybody can help me out here?

Answer 1

Hi Abdul Qayyum

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A Platform! Thank you for asking your question here.

I recommend using Azure Backup to back up your VM. Azure Backup allows you to set retention policies that align with your long-term requirements.

Although Azure Backup doesn’t allow direct movement of backups to the Archive tier, you can still choose the appropriate redundancy and cost-effective storage options within the Backup Vault to optimize long-term storage.

If you prefer to manually handle the VM's VHD, you can take a snapshot of the disk and then export it to Blob Storage. While the Archive tier is not suitable for VM disks due to its high latency, you can store your VHDs in the Cool or Hot tiers, which offer more affordable storage options with quicker access than the Archive tier.

I recommend automating the process of turning VHDs back into VMs. You can use Azure CLI or PowerShell to create scripts that restore the VM and make sure settings like secure boot and vTPM are correctly applied.

Regularly review Azure’s pricing and storage offerings, as Microsoft frequently updates its services. New features or pricing models may help reduce costs or improve backup strategies in the future.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/archive-tier-support

Reference :
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-manage-vms
https://bluexp.netapp.com/blog/5-considerations-before-you-backup-on-azure
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-vms-introduction

If you have any further queries, do let us know.

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