Backup

What is a Backup?

A Backup is a safety copy of data that can be restored in case of accidental deletion, cyberattack, hardware failure, or natural disaster. It's a critical component of business continuity planning and data protection strategies.

Backup Types

Full Backup

• Complete copy of all data
• Takes longest to create and restore
• Provides fastest recovery time
• Used as baseline for other backup types

Incremental Backup

• Only backs up changed data since last backup
• Fastest to create, slower to restore
• Requires full backup plus all incremental backups
• Efficient for storage space

Differential Backup

• Backs up all changes since last full backup
• Moderate creation and restore times
• Requires full backup plus latest differential
• Good balance of speed and storage

Backup Strategies

3-2-1 Rule

• 3 copies of important data
• 2 different storage types (e.g., local drive + cloud)
• 1 copy offsite for disaster protection

Backup Locations

• Local backups – Fast access, vulnerable to local disasters
• Cloud backups – Scalable, requires internet connection
• Offsite backups – Disaster protection, slower access
• Air-gapped backups – Isolated from network, ransomware protection

Best Practices

• Automate backups to ensure consistency
• Test restore procedures regularly
• Encrypt backup data for security
• Monitor backup success and failures
• Document backup procedures and recovery plans
• Use versioning to protect against ransomware
• Implement retention policies for compliance
• Regular backup validation to ensure data integrity