Amazon RDS for SQL Server adds snapshot support for read replicas

Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) for SQL Server now allows users to create DB snapshots directly on read replica instances. Previously, snapshot capabilities were limited to standalone and primary DB instances.

This update provides greater flexibility for backup and disaster recovery (DR) workflows. By maintaining snapshot data on the read replica throughout its lifecycle, the time required to enable Multi-AZ on a promoted replica is reduced, leading to more predictable recovery timelines. This is particularly beneficial for large storage configurations, such as io2 volumes up to 64 TiB, where initial snapshots can be time-consuming.

Users can now take manual snapshots of a read replica, enable automated backups by setting a retention period greater than zero, and retain automated backups upon deleting the replica. However, point-in-time recovery (PITR) from a read replica is not supported. The feature is available for SQL Server Enterprise Edition across all supported versions and AWS Regions, including AWS GovCloud (US).