Freshness - Backup SQL DB to Azure using MABS

Author: AbhishekMallick01

articles/backup/backup-azure-sql-mabs.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 title: Back up SQL Server by using Azure Backup Server
 description: In this article, learn the configuration to back up SQL Server databases by using Microsoft Azure Backup Server (MABS).
 ms.topic: how-to
-ms.date: 03/17/2024
+ms.date: 03/25/2025
 author: jyothisuri
 ms.author: jsuri
 ms.service: azure-backup
@@ -38,7 +38,10 @@ To back up a SQL Server database and recover it from Azure:
 
 ## Prerequisites and limitations
 
+Before you begin, review the following prerequisites and limitations:
+
 * If you have a database with files on a remote file share, protection will fail with Error ID 104. MABS doesn't support protection for SQL Server data on a remote file share.
+* Ensure that you've [installed and prepared Azure Backup Server](backup-azure-microsoft-azure-backup.md).
 * MABS can't protect databases that are stored on remote SMB shares.
 * Ensure that the [availability group replicas are configured as read-only](/sql/database-engine/availability-groups/windows/configure-read-only-access-on-an-availability-replica-sql-server).
 * You must explicitly add the system account **NTAuthority\System** to the Sysadmin group on SQL Server.
@@ -64,10 +67,6 @@ To back up a SQL Server database and recover it from Azure:
   * SQL server 2014 added a new feature to create a [database for on-premises SQL Server in Windows Azure Blob storage](/sql/relational-databases/databases/sql-server-data-files-in-microsoft-azure). MABS can't be used to protect this configuration.
   * There are some known issues with "Prefer secondary" backup preference for the SQL Always On option. MABS always takes a backup from secondary. If no secondary can be found, then the backup fails.
 
-## Before you start
-
-Before you begin, ensure that you've [installed and prepared Azure Backup Server](backup-azure-microsoft-azure-backup.md).
-
 ## Create a backup policy
 
 To protect SQL Server databases in Azure, first create a backup policy: