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    Cloud Backup:Before you begin

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    Cloud Backup:Before you begin

    Last Updated:Jan 19, 2026

    Before you back up an SQL Server database deployed on an Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance or on-premises server, you must create a backup account, grant it permissions, and configure the network.

    Step 1: Obtain the username and password

    1. (For ECS instances only) Verify or install Cloud Assistant Agent.

      The Cloud Backup client requires Cloud Assistant Agent to be running on the ECS instance.

      • Instances created on or after December 1, 2017: The agent is pre-installed. No action is needed.

      • Instances created before December 1, 2017: You must install the agent manually. For instructions, see Install Cloud Assistant Agent.

    2. Obtain the username and password of the SQL Server database.

      You will need these credentials in a later step.

    Step 2: Create a backup account and configure permissions

    1. Use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to log on to the SQL Server database.

      For more information, see Download SSMS.

    2. Change the database recovery model to Full to enable log backups.

      1. Right-click the database and select Properties.

      2. On the Options page, set Recovery model to Full and click OK.

    3. Create an SQL Server user.

      1. Create a login in SSMS.

        1. In Object Explorer, expand Security > Logins.

        2. Right-click Logins > New Login.

        3. Set Login Name to backupadmin, select SQL Server Authentication, and then enter and confirm a password.

        4. Deselect the User must change password at next logon option.

      2. On the Server Roles page, assign the sysadmin and dbcreator roles to the account.

      3. On the User Mapping page, select the database that you want to back up, select the db_backupoperator and db_owner database role memberships, and then click OK.

    4. Enable SQL Server and Windows authentication mode.

      1. Right-click the server object and click Properties.

      2. Go to the Security page, select SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode and click OK.

    Step 3: Configure network settings

    1. Log on to the server where the SQL Server database resides.

    2. Enable the TCP/IP protocol in the SQL Server network configuration.

      1. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager.

      2. In the left-side navigation pane, choose SQL Server Network Configuration > Protocols for MSSQLSERVER. Then, right-click the TCP/IP protocol and choose Enable.

      3. Restart the SQL Server server.

    Next step

    Register an ECS-hosted SQL Server instance or Register an on-premises SQL Server database

    References