Dynamics 365 FO Backup Monitoring and Azure SQL Database Backup Strategy

Applies to Product – Dynamics 365 Lifecycle Services

What’s happening?
Customers have inquired about the configuration and guidelines for backing up Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (FO) on the cloud using Lifecycle Services (LCS), as well as the backup frequency and retention strategy for their Azure SQL Database production environment.
 

Reason:
The inquiries stem from a need for clarification on the backup processes, including the timing of full backups, the frequency of differential backups, and the management of transaction log backups.
 

Resolution:

1. Backup Configuration for Dynamics 365 FO:
2. To back up the database, refer to the document on exporting databases from LCS.
3. For monitoring attachments in Azure Blob Storage, a SAS token is required to access Azure Storage Explorer. A separate support ticket must be submitted to request this token.
4. Azure SQL Database Backup Strategy:
5. Full backups are created weekly.
6. Differential backups can be set to occur every 12 or 24 hours, with the default frequency being 12 hours for vCore model databases and 24 hours for DTU model databases.
7. Transaction log backups are scheduled approximately every 10 minutes, but this frequency can vary based on compute size and database activity.
8. Automated backups can be restored up to 28 days in the past, while manual backups can be created on demand.
9. Documentation References:
10. For more information on backup retention and strategies, refer to the following documents:
    • Automated Backups Overview
    • Database Point-in-Time Restore
    • Cloud Deployment Overview
11. Action Plan:
12. Review the backup settings in the Azure portal to confirm the differential backup frequency and make adjustments if necessary.