Did you change the service account w/o using CM? Make sure the path to which you are backing up, the service account has access to it.

Isn't...

Run this procedure for each database except master and tempdb. You can't revoke the guest permissions in both these databases.

SELECT dpr.name, dpr.type_desc, dpe.permission_name, dpe.state_desc

FROM sys.database_principals dpr LEFT JOIN sys.database_permissions dpe...

i have in the past done an index rebuild after a disk defrag especially since the disk defrag is done during a maintenance window and the index rebuilds are also...

OS level fragmentation usually occurs if your data files aren't sized correctly and have to keep growing to accomodate data growth. This is definitely not a new issue for SQL...

Using the COPY_ONLY option would cause that problem, however I didn't see that in the code.

You need to find out "Why backups need to be stored on local machines?"

Databases should be backed up and sent to an off-site location or a designated DR site and...

Are you looking for continuous data mirroring or one time snapshot availability for reporting purposes?

I've used robocopy in the past to successfully and reliably copy backups over to remote sites.

Unfortunately, the backups will fail when the active node fails over to the passive node if the backup job is currently executing. You can have a job scheduled to monitor...

If the cloud is grey you won't see (quel) it.

Its the same with our servers. Monthly patch weekend 🙂

What ever account type you decide to use, you should configure the services from Configuration Manager. CM grants the account all the necessary permissions on the OS and SQL.

Do you have SSIS installed?

From BOL...

The counters are initialized to empty whenever the SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) service is started.

Dependening on when your services were last recycled this may not give you the right information.