How to Take Backup From SQL Azure

For the last few weeks I've been struggling to take a backup of a SQL Azure DB. I believe many of you might have encountered this issue.

As per my knowledge and enquiries I have come to understand that, to take a backup from SQL Azure you need to have Azure management portal access.

But just now I found a great innovative trick to take a backup from SQL Azure.

Here is the simple guide for "How to take backup from SQL Azure".

Requisites

• SQL Server 2012
• A high speed Internet Connection

Step 1: Open Management Studio and login to your SQL Azure account.



I believe you'd be seeing your Object Explorer like this (of course with a different database list, if you are not in my project :D).



Step 2: Now right-click on the DB for which you want to take a backup, then click on "Tasks" -> "Deploy Database to SQL Azure".



Step 3: Now you will be seeing a window like the following.



Click on 'Next'



Click on "Connect".

A window like the following will pop up.



Login to your local SQL Server instance.

After successfully logging in you'll see a window like the following.



Click "Next".



Click "Finish".

Now your SQL Azure DB will start deploying to your local SQL Server.



Step 4: After successful deployment to your local SQL Server, you can simply take a backup as you do for a normal DB.