Backup

Azure Backup is a service that uses Azure Storage to back up VMs, databases, files and folders, and workloads such as SQL Server from sources hosted either on-premises or in Azure. Backup will interest customers who need to back up Azure-hosted resources or who want cloud-based backup to replace or augment existing on-premises backup systems. Although Backup provides backup and restoration services, organizations in need of disaster recovery and failover services should examine Azure Site Recovery.

Service Overview

Backup allows customers to back up and restore Azure VMs running Windows Server or Linux. Backup can be configured as a part of the VM provisioning process through Azure Automanage or deployed manually. The service can also be used to back up and restore Azure Managed Disks, Azure Files shares, and Azure block blob storage. Azure-hosted databases supported by Backup include SQL Server in Azure VMs, SAP HANA in Azure VMs, and Azure PostgreSQL databases.

Backup provides a way for customers to back up on-premises systems to the cloud, using either Windows Server features or the System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) backup software to back up Hyper-V or VMware VMs. An agent installed on the protected systems communicates with the online service. The service supports application-aware backup of server applications like SQL Server, Exchange Server, and SharePoint Server workloads. Backup can also back up the system state of Windows servers to preserve OS configuration data and the configuration information of services such as Active Directory Domain Services, IIS, and File and Print Services.