Does anyone have a backup strategy for SQL Azure databases?

I'm using SQL Azure on a project and it works great. The problem is that the usual backup features do not exist. I have exported the database a couple of times using SQLAzureMW ( http://sqlazuremw.开发者_开发问答codeplex.com/ ) but this tool is now choking trying to download the database data with bcp. In any case, it's not as nice a solution as SQL Server backups.

Is anyone aware of a commercial or open source tool, or other technique, for making reliable backups of SQL Azure databases? This is really a showstopper.

Starting with update 4, SQL Azure now supports database copies. You can make a copy of your database, kept in Azure, and use that to retrieve data in the event of an accidental deletion or schema bugaboo:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff951624.aspx

It's still up to you to get that database off Azure and onto your own local SQL Server, though, but at least you've got a mechanism for making a point-in-time copy.

Microsoft takes care of the backups for you. There is no reason to back up SQL Azure databases yourself.

Yes, we had the same problem and couldn't find any good/simple solutions, so we cobbled together a solution using Red Gate: http://mooneyblog.mmdbsolutions.com/index.php/2011/01/11/simple-database-backups-with-sql-azure

SQL Azure will support PIT (Point in time) backup/restore (mainly restore) later this year (2011), CTP in summer. There is some (little) preliminary info here info here.