Backup vs Export: Which to Choose?

Choose a Cloud SQL backup when the goal is to restore the whole instance, clone for DR in another region or zone, or recover quickly from corruption. Choose a Cloud Storage export when the goal is to keep a copy after instance deletion, move only a single database or table, or retain data in a chosen storage class. Backup and restore cannot upgrade a database version, so a backup can be restored only to an instance with the same database version as when the backup was taken.