SQL Azure Backup

Last week at the BAND user group meeting in Bangor me and Chris Bowen had a little unresolved discussion about how SQL Azure manages backups. Today I found (thanks to Ben Rees) a segment of a presentation that was done at PDC’09 by Dave Campbell and Tony Petrossian. I grabbed the screen that covers what is and what will be available when it comes to backup.

1. Automatic failover. Every SQL Server instance will be configured for automatic failover. This is part of the standard service, no additional charge.
2. BCP, SSIS or other custom tools. Today (3/1/2010) there is only one way to create backups and that is pull the data to a local backup. You end up paying for bandwidth usage.
3. Database clone. A on demand backup which creates an (almost) instant replica of your database. Useful before doing schema changes and you could easily schedule the creation of a daily clone if you wish to do so. You pay for the storage. This feature should become available 1H 2010.
4. Continuous Backup. Backups run as specified by user where you will be able to restore the database to a specific point in time. Pricing not available yet. This feature should become available 2H 2010.

Update: Original video is here.