How to Restore a SQL Database From a .MDF File. ... SQL Server lets you disconnect a database from the main server program, allowing you to make safe backup copies or send data to branch offices.

You can save a backup of your MS SQL databases to a single file on your hard drive. These backup files have names ending with the ".bak" file extension, and you use them to restore database ...

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.