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What is Data Backup?
Data backup is the process of duplicating data and storing it in a separate location to ensure availability in the event of data loss due to corruption or disaster.
In the early days of PCs, users would typically insert a floppy disk into the hard disk drive and then use DOS command prompts to select and copy specific files or folders. Backups often required multiple floppy disks because their storage capacity was limited.
As information technology (IT) evolved, external hard drives and USB flash drives became popular backup options because these storage devices had faster data transfer rates (DTRs) as well as more storage capacity. This marked a significant improvement in manual backups.
Since the turn of the century, the increasing shift from physical storage media to cloud storage for data backups has made automatic backups easier for users who have reliable Internet access.
Key Takeaways
- Backups are safeguards against accidental data deletion, hardware failures, and cyberattacks.
- There are multiple types of data backups to accommodate different backup goals.
- The most useful backup strategies minimize disruption, provide data redundancy, and facilitate data recovery.
- Encryption and two-factor authentication can be used to keep data backups secure.
- Automated backup tools reduce the risk of human error and ensure backups are created consistently.
How Data Backup Works
A data backup duplicates data and stores it in a separate location. Backups can be created manually or they can be scheduled automatically with backup software.
- Manual backups require the user to select which files or folders will be copied and choose the storage media and destination where the copy will be saved.
- Backup software will automatically run backups at specific intervals without requiring user intervention. The user may be able to designate where the backups are stored.
Most modern operating systems (OSes) have some built-in backup functionality. If you require more advanced cybersecurity features or additional options for how to conduct and save data backups, third-party data backup solutions may be a better fit.
Third-party cloud backup services usually offer a wide range of backup types, more granular scheduling options, and more robust security features like encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA). While not all third-party solutions offer automatic data recovery, they generally provide a wider range of data recovery options than built-in tools.
Types of Data Backup
There are different types of data backup to meet different backup and recovery objectives.
Data backup services allow managed service providers to set up, monitor, and maintain data backups on behalf of their customers.
Data Backup Options
There are several storage options for where backed-up data can be saved. Each type of storage media has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of convenience, cost, data accessibility, security, and scalability.
Popular backup storage options include:
- Magnetic tape
- Optical Media
- External hard drives
- USB flash drives
- Network attached storage (NAS)
- Storage area network (SAN)
- Cloud storage services
Data Backup Storage Diversification
To ensure data is securely protected and can be efficiently restored when needed, data backups should be stored on multiple types of storage media in multiple locations. This way, even if one backup fails due to hardware damage, theft, or a cloud service outage, you will still have another copy of the data to rely on.
For example, the best password managers automatically sync encrypted credential data on both local and cloud storage. This redundancy and diversification ensure that a copy of your passwords is likely to always be available.
What is the 3-2-1 Backup Rule?
The 3-2-1 backup rule is a strategy that recommends having three copies of your data. Two copies should be stored on two different types of storage media, and one copy should be kept off-site to ensure maximum data protection and recovery options.
What are RTO and RPO?
RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Objective) are metrics that help determine what type of data backup and which storage option for backed-up data will meet an organization’s recovery requirements.
- RTO is the maximum acceptable amount of time to restore data after a disruption.
- RPO is the maximum acceptable amount of data loss after a disruption.
Data Backup Pros and Cons
Like any technology, data backups have their pros and cons.
Pros
- Safeguards against data loss due to hardware failures, cyberattacks, accidental deletion, or natural disasters
- Ensures minimal downtime and disruption
- Helps meet legal and regulatory requirements for data protection and retention
- Prevents costly financial losses from data loss incidents
Cons
- May require financial investment in backup hardware, software, or cloud services
- Needs regular monitoring and testing to ensure backups are functioning correctly and data is up-to-date
- Requires strong security measures to protect backups from unauthorized access and data breaches
- Some backup types are more time-consuming than others and consume resources that can affect system performance
The Bottom Line
If you find yourself asking the question, “What is backup data?” you have come to the right place. Hopefully, Techopedia’s data backup definition has helped you understand that data backup’s meaning includes creating copies of important data and storing the copies on multiple types of storage media in multiple locations.
The redundancy that data backup solutions provide helps increase the likelihood that valuable data can be restored in the event it becomes corrupted or is destroyed in a disaster.
