Business Central System Audits: Your Questions Answered

As a Microsoft Gold partner for over 20 years, we’ve conducted several system audits for our customers which have helped them identify flaws in their systems and opportunities for improvements. In more recent times, we’ve been completing systems audits for our Business Central customers. As part of this process, we often get asked countless questions by our Customer Auditors. In our latest blog article, we will provide you with some of the answers that we hope that you find useful. 

1 – How are Business Central backups performed? 

You will find that Business Central is backed up on a SQL high availability network 24/7. Also, transaction logging is used so you are able to use a point in time restore. As well as this, full transactional backups will be taken for each day and stored for 28 days in the past as well as anytime point. All admins will be able to access the Business Central admin portal to have control over these restores. You can find all the information you need to know about managing data resources here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/administration/tenant-admin-center-backup-restore. The Business Central admin URL requires the tenant but is:  https://businesscentral.dynamics.com/[TENANT_ID]/admin. You will find that in Business Central, you can navigate to this site if you are unsure of the tenant. 

2 – What is the regularity of backups? 

You will find that 24/7 transaction logging will occur with full backups taken on a daily basis. You are able to take an ad hoc backup whenever you want as an admin user: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/automated-backups-overview?view=azuresql  

3 – What is the duration/retention of backups? 

28 days. 

4 – Where are they stored? Alternate Site? 

Multiple datacentres. 

5 – How are backup recoveries tested? 

You will find Microsoft run regular DR tests, you can find more localised information here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/explore/global-infrastructure/geographies/#geographies 

6 – Is it quick and easy to restore? 

Yes, this can be done through the Business Central Admin Centre. 

7 – Do you have SOCII certification & could this be provided? 

You can find this information here: https://aka.ms/d365-compliance-list