Azure SQL Managed Instance is the only PaaS deployment that supports user-initiated backups via the native T-SQL BACKUP DATABASE ... TO URL command. Azure SQL Database (Single Database) relies on service-managed automated backups and does not support manual T-SQL backups. While SQL Server on Azure VM supports this, it requires significantly more administrative effort than a Managed Instance.

Auto-failover groups meet the requirement for multiple replicated instances across regions while minimizing administrative effort. Unlike Active Geo-replication, which requires manual failover and connection string updates for each database, Auto-failover groups provide a single read-write listener endpoint that remains unchanged after a failover, automating the business continuity process for a group of databases.

Microsoft Learn (Azure SQL Managed Instance): "SQL Managed Instance T-SQL differences, limitations, and known issues," Section: "Backup, restore, and transaction logs" (verifies support for BACKUP TO URL). https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/transact-sql-diff-overview

Microsoft Learn (Business Continuity): "Failover groups overview & best practices," Section: "Terminology and capabilities" (details the automated listener and reduced admin overhead). https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/failover-group-sql-db

Microsoft Learn (Database Backup): "Automated backups in Azure SQL Database," Section: "Manual backups" (confirms Azure SQL Database does not support traditional user-initiated T-SQL backups). https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/automated-backups-overview