Which feature provides the ability to perform backups of virtual machines while they are running?

The quiesced snapshot feature is designed specifically to create consistent backups of virtual machines while they continue to operate. When a quiesced snapshot is taken, it pauses the write operations on the virtual machine’s disk, ensuring that the data is in a consistent state. This is particularly important for applications that require data integrity, such as databases. By momentarily freezing the I/O operations, a quiesced snapshot captures the state of the system precisely as it is at that moment, allowing for effective and reliable backups without shutting down or disrupting the VM.

Other options like backup policy refer to the strategies and schedules for how and when backups are conducted, but they do not directly provide the mechanism to perform backups while the virtual machine runs. Virtual machine resource pooling manages the allocation of resources among various VMs but does not address backup capabilities. Storage DRS, while it helps in managing storage resources across datastores, does not pertain to the process of taking VM backups. Therefore, the quiesced snapshot is the only feature that specifically enables backups during operational states without impacting the virtual machine’s performance or availability.