To ensure full license availability, back-ups need to be created using blob storage (unmanaged OS disk).

1. Create a VM with unmanaged disks and select the storage account that supports blob.

2. In order to view the OS VHD disks of VM, you need the Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer tool. This tool can be installed from https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/features/storage-explorer/. Follow the on-screen instructions and install the tool on your computer. Open the Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer with Azure subscription. After successful authentication, the storage blob is displayed in Windows Explorer.

3. When VM is ready in Azure, log in to the machine, install the license container and activate it.

4. In the Storage Explorer, right-click on the selected VM and select Make Snapshot. This will create a snapshot of the OS disk with the current information (including the license container).

5. Disconnect the RDP-connection and stop the VM in the Azure portal.
6. In the Storage Explorer, right-click on the original VHD (base blob) and select Break Lease. This will detach the OS disk from the VM, and change the Lease-state to Broken.

7. Now, copy the snapshot over the base blob by right-clicking the snapshot and select Promote Snapshot and click Yes to overwrite the disk.

8. The base blob is overwritten by the snapshot. Attach it to the VM by selecting Acquire Lease in the context menu.

9. The Lease-state changes to Leased and the attached VM information should be displayed.

10. Start the VM in the Azure portal. This VM should use the restored base blob.