Your process for SQL should include backing up the core DB and the transaction logs as separate intervals. There is a best practices doc listed in here that should help http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO8201
Also, you should backup for entire server hosting yor NS install. This will help if you lose the server but not the DB.
The rights in SQL can become very granular and your NS app identity account may not have the proper permissions to read the Management items in SQL Mgmt Sutdio. Your account would need rights to this location in SQL first in order to see the maintenance plan, related schedules and read the logs.
I do not know of any report in NS that would read the status of a Db backup in SQL as the NS only knows of it's own DB.