What are the ways to back up my Azure virtual machine?

Hi,

Good day to you.

I would like to back up my Azure Virtual Machine.

This is because It takes me some time to set up the virtual machine with those applications I need.

May I know what kind of Back Up should I use, just in case something goes wrong then I can have the machine back as I have installed at the beginning. 

Is creating an image of my Azure Virtual Machine with OS Windows Server 2008 R2 with applications installed, a solution?

Please help.

Thanks for your kind attention.