For example, SQL Azure Database and SQL Managed Instance both get automatically backed up by Microsoft, according to an explanation by Swati Sachdeva, program manager II for Azure Backup.

Nearly instantaneous database backups and restores regardless of database size. Backups and restores are based upon new file snapshot technology but still support Point in Time recovery. Very fast ...

SQL Server 2012 users will be able to back up data to Microsoft's Windows Azure platform. The cost details, if any, associated with this feature weren't described.

By the second half, Microsoft plans to release continuous backup of SQL Azure databases. Users will be able to restore their databases to any point in time, he said.

Microsoft indicated the improvements planned for the next release of the SQL Azure service will go online sometime in the fourth quarter of this year. For that release, the maximum size of SQL Azure ...

Microsoft SQL Azure Database, a key component of the platform, is a rival to Amazon.com's SimpleDB. Unlike that service, however, it is a relational database.