How to Retrieve Database Backup from a Disabled Azure Subscription Blocked for Security Reasons?

Question

How to Retrieve Database Backup from a Disabled Azure Subscription Blocked for Security Reasons?

Ganesan Anbazhagan 0

My Azure subscription has been disabled due to a violation of the Acceptable Use Policy or suspicious activity. I am unable to access any Azure resources, including my Azure SQL Database and storage accounts.

I have received the following message:

“Your account or subscription is disabled for security reasons. We detected suspicious activity or terms of use violations and disabled your subscription to protect the owner of the payment instrument and Microsoft.”

I urgently need to retrieve the backup of my Azure SQL Database (or other databases) for business continuity and compliance purposes.

Questions:

1. Is there any way to request temporary read-only access to download database backups?

2. Can Microsoft Support assist in exporting the .bacpac file on my behalf and providing access via secure storage or email?

3. If I had automated backups or geo-redundant backups enabled, is there a channel to retrieve those even while the subscription is locked?

I’ve already submitted a support request, but in the meantime, I’d appreciate any community insights or past experience resolving a similar situation.

Subscription ID: [Redacted]

Tenant ID: [Redacted] (Will share with support directly)

Thank you.

Ganesan

Mallaiah Sangi 655 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-09T08:19:51.9+00:00

Hi Ganesan Anbazhagan

greeting!

Sorry for the inconvenience this must have caused!

I understand your concern about disablement of your Azure subscription.

When your Azure subscription is disabled, you can no longer be used to create or manage Azure resources. While in this state, your virtual machines and database Backup files are de-allocated, temporary IP addresses are freed, storage is read-only and other services are disabled. A subscription can be disabled for the following reasons:

Your credit may have expired.

You may have reached your spending limit.

You have a past-due bill.

Your credit card limit was exceeded.

It was explicitly disabled or cancelled.

Depending on the subscription type, a subscription may remain disabled between 1 - 90 days. After that, it's permanently deleted.

For more information, see Reactivate a disabled Azure subscription.

Please check this article:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/subscription-states

** Please don't forget to close up the thread here by upvoting and accept it as an answer if it is helpful **
Mallaiah Sangi 655 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-12T00:52:35.28+00:00

Hi Ganesan Anbazhagan

We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. In case if you have any resolution please do share that same with the community as it can be helpful to others. Otherwise, will respond with more details and we will try to help.

Your answer

Mallaiah Sangi 655 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-09T08:19:51.9+00:00

Hi Ganesan Anbazhagan

greeting!

Sorry for the inconvenience this must have caused!

I understand your concern about disablement of your Azure subscription.

When your Azure subscription is disabled, you can no longer be used to create or manage Azure resources. While in this state, your virtual machines and database Backup files are de-allocated, temporary IP addresses are freed, storage is read-only and other services are disabled. A subscription can be disabled for the following reasons:

Your credit may have expired.

You may have reached your spending limit.

You have a past-due bill.

Your credit card limit was exceeded.

It was explicitly disabled or cancelled.

Depending on the subscription type, a subscription may remain disabled between 1 - 90 days. After that, it's permanently deleted.

For more information, see Reactivate a disabled Azure subscription.

Please check this article:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/manage/subscription-states

** Please don't forget to close up the thread here by upvoting and accept it as an answer if it is helpful **
Mallaiah Sangi 655 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-05-12T00:52:35.28+00:00

Hi Ganesan Anbazhagan

We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. In case if you have any resolution please do share that same with the community as it can be helpful to others. Otherwise, will respond with more details and we will try to help.

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How to Retrieve Database Backup from a Disabled Azure Subscription Blocked for Security Reasons?

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