You can perform backups automatically based on the configuration for a hypervisor or VM group, or manually for a VM group or a specific instance.
The first backup of an instance is always a full backup. By default, all subsequent backups are incremental, capturing any changes to instance data since the last backup.
You can recover instance data, even when the most recent backup was incremental.
What Gets Backed Up
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Instances (powered on or powered off)
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Configuration files for each instance
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Instance disks
What Does Not Get Backed Up
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Images
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Instances that are encrypted with a customer-managed encryption key or a customer-supplied encryption key
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Local solid-state drive (SSD) scratch disks
When local SSD scratch disks reside on an instance with other supported disks, during the backup operation, the SSD scratch disks are skipped. The other disks are included in the backup.
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Regional persistent disks (standard and SSD)
When regional persistent disks (standard and SSD) reside on an instance with other supported disks, during the backup operation, the regional persistent disks (standard and SSD) are skipped. The other disks are included in the backup.