Windows Azure Online Backup Service Now with System Center 2012 SP1 Support

Windows Azure Online Backup, the service that was designed to provide support for server data to be easily backed up and recovered straight from the cloud, has received some enhancements this week.

Following the release of Windows Server 2012 and the availability of a beta version of System Center 2012 SP1, the service now offers support for these as well.

Thus, a hybrid approach to cloud computing is now available, combining both cloud and on-premises resources and putting together Windows Server, System Center and Windows Azure in what Microsoft calls the “Cloud OS.”

“Currently in preview, Windows Azure Online Backup is a cloud-based backup solution enabling server data to be backed up and recovered from the cloud in order to help protect against loss and corruption,” Microsoft explains.

“The service provides IT administrators with a physically remote backup and recovery option for their server data with limited additional investment when compared with on-premises backup solutions.”

Following the recent update, Windows Azure Online Backup offers support for only for Windows Server 2012, but also for backup from on-premises System Center 2012 SP1 via the Data Protection Manager component.

Administrators will have to download a Windows Azure Online Backup agent and take advantage of its features and capabilities to enhance existing protection and to leverage recovery and monitoring of workflows through implementing cloud backup along disk/tape-based backups.

At the same time, Microsoft unveiled the availability of a supporting preview of the Windows Azure Active Directory Management Portal.

This portal can be used for signing up for Windows Azure Online Backup, while also offering management capabilities over users’ access to the service. Administrators interested in learning more on the service should head over to this page on the Windows Azure website.

“We’ll have more details on how the new Windows Azure Active Directory Management Portal can be used to manage your organization’s identity information in a separate blog post soon,” Microsoft concluded.