Final answer:
Azure SQL Database Managed Instance is the recommended deployment option for minimizing the time it takes to perform a database backup in Azure SQL. The correct answer is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
Azure SQL Database Managed Instance is the recommended deployment option for minimizing the time it takes to perform a database backup in Azure SQL. Managed Instance provides automated backups, which are done at the instance level and do not impact performance. These backups are stored in Azure Blob Storage and can be easily restored when needed.
Azure SQL Database Single Database, on the other hand, performs backups at the database level. While backups can still be automated, the backup process can impact the performance of the database during the backup operation. Azure SQL Database Hyperscale offers scalable storage and is optimized for database backups. With Hyperscale, you can perform backups without impacting the performance of your database, as the backups are distributed across multiple nodes. This ensures fast and efficient backups.
Azure SQL Database Hyperscale is the best option for minimizing backup times as it offers nearly instantaneous backups regardless of database size, thanks to its file snapshot backup technology.
If you need to recommend an Azure SQL deployment option that minimizes how long it takes to perform a database backup, you would go with Azure SQL Database Hyperscale. Hyperscale is a highly scalable storage and compute performance tier that is built on the Azure architecture to provide storage up to 100 TB and rapid database backups, irrespective of size, due to its file snapshot backup technology. In contrast, options like the Managed Instance, Single Database, and Serverless might have limitations in backing up speed due to their different architectures and backup methodologies.
The Hyperscale service tier provides nearly instantaneous backups and faster database restores for large databases when compared to traditional database engines which can be particularly useful for databases with very large sizes. By not relying on the size of the data, but on the file snapshot backups, Azure SQL Database Hyperscale significantly reduces the time it would take to perform otherwise lengthy backup operations.