Public Preview: Instant Access via application consistent restore points

Azure introduces Instant Access for VM Restore Points, enabling you to restore disks immediately after a restore point is created—without waiting for background data replication. Key benefits: * Faster recovery (lower RTO): Restore disks instantly—no wait for data hydration. * High performance from the start: Restored disks are usable immediately while data copies in the background. * Consistent recovery: Application-consistent restore points ensure reliable recovery across all VM disks. * Flexible controls: Enable Instant Access and configure duration per restore point or collection. How it works: * Create restore points with Instant Access enabled * Restore disks immediately after creation * Data continues to hydrate in the background for long-term durability Pricing: Public Preview: No additional charges apply when using Instant Access. Standard billing for disks and snapshots remains unchanged. Post General Availability (GA): Two charges will apply: * Storage Charge: Billed only for the additional storage space consumed by Instant Access Snapshots, based on data changes on the source disk after the snapshot is created. * Restore Charge: A one-time fee applies for each disk restored from an Instant Access Snapshot, calculated based on the disk’s provisioned size at the time of restore. [Learn more](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/virtual-machines-create-restore-points#instant-access-preview).