Backup

Backup means simply copying the files and other data to a secondary disk or backup location for their preservation in case the files are accidentally lost due to failure or any other catastrophe. Backing up data is vital for the successful implementation of a disaster recovery plan and stress-free operation of the organization.

Enterprises frequently back up their data or when they deem the application is in the course of being buggy in the future. Data corruption is another reason why creating multiple copies is so important. Hardware failure can overrun your operation and create bottlenecks in the proper functioning. Malicious hacking could also put your business and its data in jeopardy. 

Backups should be captured and synchronized in regular intervals to help the application restore to its last clean backup when required.

Backup services have gained momentum ever since application updates started to roll out. Before backup services rolled into action, organizations had to rely on their own infra. Things became a lot simpler after the backup was available as a service. The backup providers provided cloud backup and hosting backup services at almost two times less price than they would originally cost the organization, if developed in-house. Recovery testing services also become more and more involved because in some cases the backup was also rendered inaccessible. The process of retrieving files that have been previously backed up is called file restoration.

In computer language, the backup term means to copy files or data in a secondary medium as a precaution. So, the secondary medium can be easily used to restore the original data in the event of data loss.

A backup process has two distinct purposes, which are as follows:

- To recover the data after its loss
- Recover the data from an earlier time

Data loss can be a common experience for the users; where backup can be a very useful method to ensure the security of vital information or data. In more simple words, this facility represents a simple form of disaster recovery. Since the backup system contains at least one copy of all data worth for saving for future reference, storage space requirements have also increased significantly.

Data backup and data protection are often confused for one another and used interchangeably, even though data protection involves a broader aim in the process of business continuity. Information lifecycle, data security and troubleshooting are some of the major things taken care of in data protection but not in the backup. 

How frequently should I backup data?

If you have already subscribed to cloud backup data backup service, you can speak to your account manager and have your backup plan figured out. Typically, it is recommended to backup every time a major update is rolled out. Updates almost always have bugs because some glitches are only highlighted when run in real-time. 

A backup process is undertaken for critical databases only. The entire process is administered by predefined backup guidelines, specifying how frequently or what type of data should be backed up and how many replications of the same is required to be made. 
Practices suggest that a full backup should be scheduled prior to upgrading the system or rolling out a major upgrade. The key is to have a clean backup to enable the system to restore its previous state without running into any sorts of errors. 

The importance of backup and recovery

It is important to have cloud backup services configured. Even with a robust storage system, you are bound to run into a state of no-data and therefore restoring becomes the requirement of every IT industry. Storing copies of the data on separate storage devices is crucial to safeguard against permanent loss of data. There are no norms as to which medium should you use to backup. The storage medium could be anything from a USB disk to a cloud backup, or more expensive hosting backup services.

To max out on reliability, make sure backups are consistently made are bug-free themselves. While doing so also make sure that no malicious program has made its way into the backup created. Doing so will only jeopardize your security. The last thing you would want is to restore from a backup that is itself infected with malware. Doing so would create more problems than it would solve.