Local backup and AzCopy migration to SQL Server 2025

When to Use

• Migrate SQL Server 2008 through SQL Server 2025 to a SQL Server 2025 target using backup and restore.
• Move a local full backup through Azure Blob Storage with AzCopy and restore it with the target managed identity.
• Do not use for a generic SQL Server backup migration to Azure when the destination platform or migration method is unspecified; ask the user to clarify.

Migrate one database or an ordered set of user databases from SQL Server 2008 through SQL Server 2025 to a SQL Server 2025 target running in Azure, on-premises, or in another cloud. Sources newer than SQL Server 2025 are blocked because target restore compatibility has not been validated. Create each full backup on a local source volume, upload the file to a private Azure Blob container with AzCopy v10 and the signed-in operator's Microsoft Entra identity, then restore it from URL with the target SQL Server primary managed identity.