Backup Window

Why Trust Techopedia

What Does Backup Window Mean?

A backup window is the time slot/window when it is most suitable to back up data, applications or a system. It is a predefined/prescheduled time when the backup software is permitted to start the backup process on a computer system.

Advertisements

Techopedia Explains Backup Window

A backup window primarily helps system/backup administrators to identify, plan and execute the backup process. Typically, the backup window is set for time slots when the backup process will have the most minimal impact on the system’s overall performance and/or interference with users’ tasks. To enable this, a system’s peak and non-peak hours are identified. For example, standard desktop computers within an office typically have peak hours during normal business hours. Therefore, the administrator can select an overnight backup window when the system is generally idle or has minimal workload.

Advertisements

Related Terms

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.