Microsoft publishes Azure SQL ransomware recovery framework
Microsoft has published a seven-step ransomware recovery framework for Azure SQL Database and Managed Instance: Protect, Detect, Contain, Assess, Restore, Validate and Harden.
The guidance covers attacks through customer-controlled identities, networks, applications and configurations.
It emphasizes containing attacker access before restoring, preserving backups before retention expires, choosing a clean restore point and retaining investigation evidence.
The guide compares recovery options and calls for validating restored data before production traffic returns. Preparation includes ranking critical databases, agreeing decision responsibilities, testing restores and rehearsing incident response.
Enabling retention or logging after compromise cannot recover backups or evidence that were never retained.
Partner briefing
- What it is
End-to-end ransomware recovery guidance for Azure SQL.
- What’s changing
New Microsoft Learn guidance covers preparation through post-incident hardening.
- Why it matters
Recovery depends on prior retention, containment and validated restores.
- Who it affects
Database administrators, incident responders and Azure managed-service partners.