Configuring Global Retention Settings

Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure allows you to configure global retention settings to specify for how long the following data must be retained in the configuration database:

• Obsolete snapshots
• Session records

Configuring Retention Settings for Obsolete Snapshots

If an Azure VM is no longer processed by a backup policy (for example, it was removed from the backup policy or the backup policy no longer exists), its snapshots become obsolete. Retention policy settings specified in backup policy settings do not apply to obsolete snapshots — these snapshots are removed from Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure according to their own retention settings.

To configure retention settings for obsolete snapshots, do the following:

1. Switch to the Configuration page.

2. Navigate to Settings > Retention Settings.

3. In the Obsolete snapshots retention section, select one of the following options:

• Select the Never option if you do not want Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure to remove obsolete snapshots.

This option is selected by default.

• Select the After option to specify the number of days, months or years for which obsolete snapshots must be kept in the configuration database. The number of days must be between 3 and 99, the number of months must be between 3 and 1188.

If you select this option, Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure will first wait for the specified period of time after an Azure VM stops being processed by a backup policy, and then will remove its obsolete snapshots from the configuration database as soon as the period is over.

4. Click Save.

Configuring Retention Settings for Session Records

Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure stores records for all sessions of performed data protection and disaster recovery operations in the configuration database. These session records are removed from Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure after 365 days by default. However, you can configure retention settings for the records.

1. In the Session retention section of the Retention Settings page, select one of the following options:

• Select the Keep all sessions option if you do not want Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure to remove session records.
• Select the Keep only last option to specify the number of days, months or years during which session records must be kept in the configuration database.

If you select this option, Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure will remove all session records that are older than the specified time limit.

2. Click Save.