Izual_Rebirth explores whether Azure snapshots are a practical solution for a one-off backup of an inactive, archival VM, drawing comparisons to on-premises environments.

Are Snapshots Suitable for a One Time Backup Option in Azure?

Author: Izual_Rebirth

Background

The author expresses skepticism about using snapshots as a long-term backup solution for on-premises environments. However, they highlight that Azure snapshots are described as copies of the entire disk, prompting the question of suitability for a single, archival backup.

Use Case

  • Scenario: A virtual machine (VM) in Azure is rarely powered on, sees no ongoing changes, and serves only as an archive.
  • Question: Is an Azure snapshot a fitting choice for a one-time backup in this case?

Considerations

  • On-Premises Snapshots: Generally discouraged for long-term use due to reliability or storage concerns.
  • Azure Snapshots: Marketed as full-disk copies, potentially more robust for backups, at least as a point-in-time image for recovery or archival.
  • Backup Requirements: Since the VM remains mostly inactive, the risks associated with snapshotting an active, changing system do not apply.
  • Cost and Accessibility: Snapshots in Azure incur costs and are stored independently, allowing restoration or retention without keeping the VM active.

Conclusion

Given the scenario—a VM used for archival, with no ongoing changes—a single Azure snapshot could be a practical and cost-effective backup solution.

Original post and discussion: Reddit: Are snapshots suitable for a one time backup?

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