# Idle Recovery Services Vault backups and suboptimal backup storage tiering Canonical: https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/idle-recovery-services-vault-backups-and-suboptimal-backup-storage-tiering Backup data remains in a Recovery Services Vault after the original protected resource has been deleted. By: Deepak Sreedhar Updated: 2026-09-28 [Cloud Efficiency Hub](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub) # Idle Recovery Services Vault Backups and Suboptimal Backup Storage Tiering The short version Backup data remains in a Recovery Services Vault after the original protected resource has been deleted. [Deepak Sreedhar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-sreedhar-235260168) Azure FinOps Specialist @ Sodexo Azure service [Azure Recovery Services Vault](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/cloud-services/azure-recovery-services-vault) Category [Storage](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/service-category/storage) Reference CER-0281 Type Idle or Unused Resource ## Explanation Why the waste happens and who it affects. These orphaned backups continue to consume storage and generate cost despite no longer supporting an active workload. In addition, long-retained backups that are rarely accessed are often kept in higher-cost tiers, increasing storage spend without providing additional value. ## Billing model The pricing dimensions that drive this cost. Recovery Services Vault backup costs are driven by the amount of backup data stored and the storage tier used. Backup data continues to incur storage charges even after the protected resource is deleted, and higher-cost tiers are billed continuously regardless of access frequency. ## How to detect 4 checks to find it in your estate. - Review whether backup items exist for resources that are no longer deployed - Identify backups that have not had recent successful backup activity - Assess whether long-term retained backups are infrequently accessed - Evaluate whether backup storage tiers align with access and retention requirements ## How to fix 5 ways to remove the waste. - Remove backup items associated with deleted or decommissioned resources - Expect deleted backup data to enter soft delete first: the default 14-day soft-delete retention is free, but any extended retention (up to 180 days) is billed at regular backup rates beyond 14 days, which delays the savings - Transition infrequently accessed, long-retained backup data to lower-cost archival tiers where appropriate - Note that the vault-archive tier only accepts eligible long-term recovery points (monthly and yearly points for Azure VMs, full points for SQL Server and SAP HANA in Azure VMs), is not supported on ZRS vaults, and carries a 180-day early deletion charge; archived Azure VM points are converted from incremental to full copies, which can raise total storage, so move the points in Azure Backup's archive recommendations rather than every eligible point - Reassess vault configuration decisions, such as redundancy and secondary-region backups, to ensure they match business and recovery needs ## Documentation Vendor references for pricing and configuration. - [What is Azure Backup? learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-overview) - [Azure Backup - Archive tier overview learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/archive-tier-support) - [Overview of Recovery Services vaults learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/backup-azure-recovery-services-vault-overview) - [Secure by Default with Soft Delete for Azure Backup learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/secure-by-default) ## Related inefficiencies [Browse the library](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub) - Azure Recovery Services Vault CER-0447 ### [Geo-Redundant Recovery Services Vault Storage for Non-Critical Backups](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/geo-redundant-recovery-services-vault-storage-for-non-critical-backups) New Recovery Services vaults default to geo-redundant storage (GRS) for backup data, and the storage replication type can only be changed before the first backup is configured. Teams creating vaults for development, test, sandbox or other... Storage - Azure Managed Disks CER-0074 ### [Managed Disk Attached to a Stopped VM](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/managed-disk-attached-to-a-stopped-vm) Disks attached to VMs that have been stopped for an extended period, particularly when showing no read or write activity, may indicate abandoned infrastructure or obsolete resources. Retaining these disks without validation leads to... Storage - Azure Table Storage CER-0093 ### [Inactive Tables in Storage Account](https://www.pointfive.co/efficiency-hub/inefficiencies/inactive-tables-in-storage-account) Tables with no read or write activity often represent deprecated applications, obsolete telemetry, or abandoned development artifacts. Retaining inactive tables increases storage costs and operational complexity. Regularly auditing and... Storage --- Source: the public page above. 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