What is the key feature of Soft Delete in Azure Backup?

The key feature of Soft Delete in Azure Backup is its ability to temporarily recover deleted backups. This feature allows users to restore backups that have been accidentally deleted within a specified retention period, which provides a safeguard against unintentional data loss. When a user deletes a backup item, that item isn't immediately removed from the system; instead, it's marked for deletion and retained in a soft deleted state. This allows for the recovery of the backup if needed, ensuring that data protection and retention policies are upheld.

The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose and function of Soft Delete in Azure. For instance, preserving backup data indefinitely is not a characteristic of Soft Delete, as there is a limited retention period during which recovery is possible. Allowing backup retrieval without authentication does not apply here, as recovering backups typically requires proper access and authentication to ensure security. Lastly, Soft Delete does not have any impact on the size of the backups; rather, it is focused on the retention and recovery process.