If you want to automatize the backup of your Azure database on your own backup server, you can develop your own utility in few lines of C# code : First you have to install SSMS 2012. After, in your project, reference the assembly Microsoft.SqlServer.Dac.dll located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DAC\bin . Finally, you can export a bacpac file (containing both Schema and Data of your database) like this : var ds = new DacServices("Server=tcp:your_server.database.windows.net,1433;User ID=your_user@your_server;Password=your_password;Trusted_Connection=False;Encrypt=True;Connection Timeout=30;"); ds.ExportBacpac("test.bacpac", "your_database_to_export"); The connection string can be found on the Windows Azure Portal > SQL Databases > your_database > quick glance > Show connection strings > ADO.NET #1