1/ In SQL server 2008, there is a new whole database encryption option (TDE). I suspect that using this option will make the backups incompatible with SQL 2005.

Microsoft introduced transparent data encryption (TDE) when it released SQL Server 2008, adding full database encryption rather than the limited cell-based encryption that debuted in SQL Server 2005.

Microsoft's database releases from 2008 and 2010 reach end of extended support. In response, Redmond says, that for many customers, the time for cloud migration has arrived.

SQL Server 2008 R2 Server Management Self-Service Business Intelligence The ability for end-users to do their own analysis and reporting on data is a nice new feature for SQL Server 2008 R2.