Snapshot Backup

What Does Snapshot Backup Mean?

A snapshot backup is a type of backup copy used to create the entire architectural instance/copy of an application, disk or system. It is used in backup processes to restore the system or disk of a particular device at a specific time.

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A snapshot backup can also be referred to as image backup.

Techopedia Explains Snapshot Backup

Snapshot backups are primarily used to restore a system, virtual machine and disk or drive to an operational state and to serve as the system’s restore point when the snapshot was taken. It is not equivalent to a backup copy and it doesn’t store the data itself but just defines where and how the data was stored and organized. Typically, the snapshot is created using disk/system imaging or system restoration and recovery software. However, most backup software can also take snapshot backups and restore the system using the snapshots.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…