Estimate snapshots of VMs and managed disks

Question

I'm thinking of using Azure Backup to take snapshots of VMs and managed disks.
Is it correct that I don't need to add the snapshot fee to the VM and Managed Disk since the snapshot fee is included in the Azure Backup quote?

Answer 1

Hi @ATSUKO YONEDA ,

Maybe a short view on the Azure Backup process is helpful to clarify:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-vms-introduction

In short:
Azure Backup creates a snapshot of the VM including all disks
Snapshot will be copied to the vault

When the data transfer is complete, the snapshot is removed, and a recovery point is created.

This means the snaphot created by Azure Backup is not available anymore after the recovery point is created.
Restore will be done by using the recovery point. The created snapshot is only for Azure Backup process and not available after the backup is done for any other purpose.

All these costs are in the Azure Backup quote.

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There is another option to create snapshots of a managed disk: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/managed-disks-overview#managed-disk-snapshots
This is not related to Azure Backup! Neither to the Azure Backup process nor to the costs of Azure Backup.
This method to create snapshots I mean with my statement "If you create additional snapshots of the VM, independent from Azure Backup you have to add the snapshot fee."

Snapshots are billed based on the used size.

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten

Answer 2

Hi @ATSUKO YONEDA ,

I "read it the same": the fee for the snapshot is included in the Azure Backup quote if you use Azure Backup. If you create additional snapshots of the VM, independent from Azure Backup you have to add the snapshot fee.

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten

Answer 3

Thanks @Andreas Baumgarten ,

We are assuming that Azure Backup will restore the snapshot, so we don't need to store it separately.
So, it looks like we don't need to estimate it separately.