Backup Copy

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What Does Backup Copy Mean?

A backup copy is a duplicate instance of a data file, application, system or server that’s created using backup software. It’s used as a means to restore original data in case it’s deleted, corrupted or lost.

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A data backup copy is similar to the data being backed up and is usually stored on an external backup storage facility/medium.

A backup copy is also known as backup file.

Techopedia Explains Backup Copy

A backup copy is a duplicate version of any data and is the sole output of any backup process/ software. Typically, the backup copy is of the same version, size and type as the original data. For a complete system or database backup, this can be a snapshot image file consisting of all the data and settings, which are essential to restoring the system to its last backed-up state. A backup copy is also used as a means to maintain data redundancy.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret 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 IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.