Preserving additional copies of your data in a separate physical location from data files in storage. Backup preserves older copies so you can restore your data if accidental deletion/alteration or a disaster such as fire, flood, or hardware malfunction damages your data in storage.
To safeguard your important data assets, remember both storage and backup are essential.
What should you backup?
How many copies?
How often?
What type?
Test your system: Go through the exercise of accessing backup functions to see that the procedure works & you can fully restore your data
Type | Pro | Con |
PC/Laptop | Convenient for active data | Easily lost/stolen; fail; manual backup |
Network | Automatic backup and security | Access/capacity limitations |
External devices | Low cost; portable; easy use | Easily lost/stolen; fail |
Remote/Cloud | Global access; collaboration | Security/privacy limitations |
Physical storage (e.g. notebooks) | Convenient; tangible | Manual backup |