In SQL Server 2008 Microsoft added the long overdue backup compression feature.  You may have noticed in the backup dialog box the pull down menu to use the DEFAULT SERVER SETTING for compression.

To determine what the DEFAULT value actually is:

Out of the box, SQL Server 2008 backup compression is turned OFF.  To avoid the need to select COMPRESSION every time a backup is taken (assuming that is your intent), you can enable backup compression at the server level:

This will simply allow you to not have to worry about explicitly selecting the backup COMPRESSION option in the backup dialog box.

If all of your servers are in SQL Server’s new CENTRAL MANAGEMENT SERVER, you can enable backup compression on all of the servers by executing the above command ONE time.

Stay curious… keep learning…