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Small and medium business | Business Central, N...
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Business Central Saas Backup: 12-Month Retention & Recovery Option

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What are the best third-party solutions for Business Central SaaS backup beyond Microsoft's default 28-day retention?

Looking for recommendations on solutions for below:

  • Retention Period: 12 months
  • Data Scope: Production database only
  • Backup Frequency: Daily (nightly backups)
  • Data Size: 80GB (with expected growth)
  • Automated daily backups with long-term retention
  • Easy restore options for data loss or corruption
  • Incremental backups to optimize storage
  • Scalability for large database growth
  • Cost-effective storage and disaster recovery planning

If a custom backup approach is considered instead of a third-party tool, what would be the best way to implement it? Which technologies or methodologies should be used to ensure reliability, automation, and compliance with long-term retention needs? also, are there any third-party available for this?

I have the same question (1)
  • Suggested answer
    Jainam M. Kothari Profile Picture
    12,148 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at
    Business Central Saas Backup: 12-Month Retention & Recovery Option
    Hello,
     
    For extending the backup retention period of your Business Central SaaS beyond Microsoft's default 28-day retention, here are some third-party solutions and custom approaches that can meet your requirements:
    Third-Party Solutions
    1. Azure Backup
      • Retention Period: Supports long-term retention policies.
      • Backup Frequency: Daily backups.
      • Data Scope: Production database.
      • Features: Automated backups, incremental backups, easy restore options, and scalability.
      • Cost-Effective: Pay-as-you-go pricing model.
    Custom Backup Approach
    If you prefer a custom backup approach, consider the following technologies and methodologies:
    1. Azure Blob Storage
      • Retention Period: Configure retention policies for up to 12 months or more.
      • Backup Frequency: Use Azure Automation or Azure Functions to schedule daily backups.
      • Data Scope: Production database.
      • Features: Incremental backups, automated processes, and easy restore options.
      • Scalability: Highly scalable storage solution.
      • Cost-Effective: Pay-as-you-go pricing model.
    2. Azure SQL Database
      • Retention Period: Configure long-term retention policies.
      • Backup Frequency: Automated daily backups.
      • Data Scope: Production database.
      • Features: Built-in high availability, incremental backups, and easy restore options.
      • Scalability: Supports large database growth.
      • Cost-Effective: Integrated with Azure services.
  • Suggested answer
    Steven Renders Profile Picture
    5,672 Moderator on at
    Business Central Saas Backup: 12-Month Retention & Recovery Option
    Backups are taken by Microsoft automatically. Noone has access to the SQL Azure database, so taking backups yourself ir via another tool is not possible at all.
     
    You can export a recent backup to a sql bacpac file and download that. You might be able to automate that using the APIs:Business Central Admin Center API - Environment Database Export - Business Central | Microsoft Learn
     
    I'm not aware if there are already solutions out there, but you can have a look in the BC appsource.
  • Ramesh Kumar Profile Picture
    7,521 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at
    Business Central Saas Backup: 12-Month Retention & Recovery Option
    Hi Ashwin,
     
    I don't think you can extend or modify the Azure SQL database backup as it's taken automatically. I'm not sure if we have any other solution besides what Steven suggested, which is using the BACPAC file.
     
    Thanks
    Ramesh
     
    If this was helpful, please check the "Does this answer your question?" box and mark it as verified.
  • Suggested answer
    YUN ZHU Profile Picture
    93,222 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at
    Business Central Saas Backup: 12-Month Retention & Recovery Option
    Hi, hope the following helps.
    Dynamics 365 Business Central SaaS: How to Export Database and Restore it on Local SQL Server
    Dynamics 365 Business Central: Manage environments via Admin Center API
     
    PS: Each Business Central environment is also protected by automatic geo-redundant backups. If a region experiences a full outage, Azure restores your data from the backup in another Azure region within the same Azure geography.
     
    Thanks.
    ZHU
  • Suggested answer
    Khushbu Rajvi. Profile Picture
    19,357 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at
    Business Central Saas Backup: 12-Month Retention & Recovery Option
  • Vahid Ghafarpour Profile Picture
    11,980 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at
    Business Central Saas Backup: 12-Month Retention & Recovery Option
    If any of the responses helped resolve your issue, please take a moment to mark the best answer. This helps others in the community quickly find solutions to similar problems.

    To do this, simply click the "Does this answer your question?" button on the most helpful response and like the helpful posts. If your issue is still unresolved, feel free to provide more details so the community can assist further!

    Thanks for being an active part of the Dynamics 365 Community! 😊

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