Windows Azure Recovery Services (Preview)

Automated server backups – stored securely offsite, in the cloud

Backup can help you protect important server data offsite with automated backups to Windows Azure, where they are available for easy data restoration.

Automated backups

Manage cloud backups from the familiar backup tools in Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 Essentials, or System Center 2012 Data Protection Manager. These tools provide similar experiences configuring, monitoring, and recovering backups whether to local disk or Windows Azure storage. After you us import data and back it up to the cloud, authorized users can easily recover backups to any server.

Efficient and flexible offsite backup

With incremental backups, only changes to files are transferred to the cloud. This helps ensure efficient use of storage, reduced bandwidth consumption, and point-in-time recovery of multiple versions of the data. Configurable data retention policies, data compression and data transfer throttling also offer you added flexibility and help boost efficiency. Backups are stored in Windows Azure and are “offsite,” reducing the need to secure and protect onsite backup media.

Pricing Example

Pricing Details

We charge for backup based on the amount of data stored in the Backup service. We do not charge additionally for bandwidth, storage, storage transactions, compute, or other resources associated with providing the Backup service.

Windows Azure Backup is currently in preview and we provide a 50% discount during the preview period.

* Actual price is determined by your committed spend level, commitment duration and whether you choose to pay monthly or pre-pay.

Windows Azure Backup is currently in preview and we provide a 50% discount during the preview period.

Make a monthly commitment to Windows Azure for 6 months or 12 months and receive a significant discount of 20-32%. The discount you earn is determined by the monthly monetary amount you commit. We offer two options:

• Pay Monthly: Minimum commitment £318.20/month billed monthly
• Pre-Pay: Pre-Pay for the entire term and get an additional discount

For details on discount pricing, please see the 6-Month and 12-Month plan details.

FAQ’s

If I use Backup for only a few days a month, is the cost prorated?

The charge for backup is prorated daily. For example, if you consistently utilized 20 GB of storage for the first half of the month and none for the second half of the month, your average daily amount of compressed data stored would be 10GB for that month. Since the first 5GB each month is included at no charge, your bill for that month would be £0.7955 (5GB x £0.016) for that month. The amount of storage for which you are billed is determined by the compression ratio and the number of backups retained.

Will the number of GB I am charged for be exactly the same as the amount of data I am backing up from my on-premises server?

No. There are several factors that will impact the amount of storage you are consuming in the Backup service including, but not limited to, compression ratios, the rate at which the data changes, and the number of backup copies you elect to retain in the service.

What are the supported platforms?

No. There are several factors that will impact the amount of storage you are consuming in the Backup service including, but not limited to, compression

Customers of Windows Server 2008 R2 (TBA), Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 Essentials, and System Center 2012 (with SP1) can preview Backup in the Windows Azure management portal.

To try this feature in preview, you will need a Windows Azure account. To begin your sign up, click here.

How to configure

Configure Windows Azure Recovery Service: http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh831419.aspx