Google Cloud Backup and DR Service
Google Cloud Backup and DR Service is a centrally managed backup and recovery service for Google Cloud workloads.
What Google Cloud Backup and DR Service is
Google Cloud Backup and DR Service is a centrally managed backup and recovery service for Google Cloud workloads. It protects backup data from accidental or malicious deletion by storing copies in backup vaults within a Google-managed environment that blocks modification and early deletion. Supported workloads include Compute Engine instances and disks, Filestore, Google Cloud VMware Engine VMs, Cloud SQL, AlloyDB, and enterprise databases such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, SAP HANA, MySQL, and PostgreSQL. Backup plans can run intraday, daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly, with selectable locations and retention periods. Recovery options range from individual file restores to complete workload recovery and cloning between regions or projects. Operations can be automated through gcloud CLI, APIs, and Terraform. Reporting connects with Cloud Monitoring, Cloud Logging, and BigQuery, while security integrations surface high-risk backup activity. Customer-managed Cloud KMS keys are supported for eligible workloads. A 30-day trial is available before paid usage begins.
Good
- Immutable backup vaults resist modification and early deletion
- Supports many Google Cloud and enterprise database workloads
- File, full-workload, cross-region, and cross-project recovery
- Schedules range from intraday to yearly
- Automation via gcloud, APIs, and Terraform
Watch out
- No free plan; paid usage follows the trial
- Trial converts automatically to paid usage
- Certain VMware and database backups require appliances
- Trial service-level agreements might be limited
Who it suits
It suits teams protecting cloud workloads and databases that need scheduled backups, retention controls, ransomware recovery, and automated operations. Hybrid deployments and supported cloud workloads are covered.
Verdict
Google Cloud Backup and DR Service combines broad workload coverage with scheduled, immutable backups and several recovery paths. Check appliance requirements, trial conversion terms, and usage-based charges before deployment.
Plans and prices
From Google Cloud Backup and DR Service's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day introductory trial | Free | Up to 50 TiB of backup storage per vault · Up to 10 vaults · One trial per project · Inter-region transfers, multi-regional uploads/downloads, self-managed storage, and appliance costs may still be charged · 30 days; trial ends or upgrades to paid usage |
| Paid usage | — | Charges can include backup storage, backup management, inter-region data transfer, and multi-regional uploads/downloads; backup/recovery appliances incur standard Compute Engine instance charges · Monthly, based on usage; consumption-based billing |
The facts
Each one read from Google Cloud Backup and DR Service's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Appliance requirement
- Backing up VMware VMs and SAP HANA, IBM Db2, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server databases running inside Compute Engine instances requires an appliance management console and one or more backup/recovery appliances.checked 3 Oct 2026
What it does
- Automation
- Google lists gcloud CLI, APIs, and Terraform as ways to automate backup operations and integrate them with infrastructure-as-code workflows.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- Backup and DR supports customer-managed encryption keys managed in Cloud Key Management Service for supported workloads.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Immutable backups
- Backup vaults store backups in a Google-managed environment and protect them against modification and early deletion.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Legacy support notice
- Google states that support for new deployments of affected databases in the legacy appliance management console ended after July 31, 2026.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Google Cloud describes the service as centrally managed backup and recovery for Google Cloud workloads, protecting backup data from malicious or accidental deletion.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Recovery
- The service supports granular file-level restores, full workload recoveries, and cross-region or cross-project cloning.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Reporting integrations
- Backup and DR reporting integrates with Cloud Monitoring, Cloud Logging, and BigQuery for dashboards, alerts, and custom reports.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Scheduling and retention
- Backup plans support intraday, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly schedules with configurable backup locations and retention periods.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Security integrations
- The service integrates with Security Command Center and Google Security Operations to surface alerts about high-risk backup activity.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Supported workloads
- Supported workloads include Compute Engine instances and disks, Filestore, Google Cloud VMware Engine VMs, Cloud SQL, AlloyDB, and enterprise databases including Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, SAP HANA, MySQL, and PostgreSQL.checked 3 Oct 2026
Money
- Trial conversion
- At the end of the 30-day trial, the project automatically upgrades to paid usage and retained backups can continue to incur storage charges.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Trial eligibility
- A project cannot start the introductory trial if it already has an active Backup and DR configuration or used the trial within the past 12 months.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Trial SLA
- Google says service level agreements might be limited during the trial period.checked 3 Oct 2026
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