Manual Backups

Conventional database backup statements don't work in Azure SQL Database. Manual backup consists of exporting the database as a DACPAC (data and schema) or BACPAC (schema) and bcp out the data into csv files.

Manual backups can be performed in the following ways:

• Export BACPAC to your Azure storage account using the Azure portal
• Export BACPAC to your Azure storage account using PowerShell
• Export BACPAC using SQL Server Management Studio
• Export BACPAC or DACPAC to an on-premises system using sqlpackage.exe

Backing up an Azure SQL Database Using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

In this section, we will back up the Azure SQL toystore database using SSMS:

1. Open SSMS and press F8 to open Object Explorer if it's not already open.
2. From Object Explorer, connect to Azure SQL Server. Once done, this is what you will see:

   Figure 3.5: The toystore database in the Object Explorer pane

3. Right-click the toystore database, select tasks, then select Export...