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Handling data is important for any business that relies heavily on computing technology. So, it is important for enterprises to understand what is data backup and recovery.
Data loss and breach could cause damage to one’s reputation and financial assets. So, businesses should be knowledgeable about data backup and recovery procedures.
Understanding what is data backup and recovery may take up a lot of your time. But, you will find it invaluable when the problem arises without warning.
Understanding what is data backup and recovery will make you ready to face failures. Any sort of failure may arise at any given moment. And, with the right knowledge, you will be ready to face different scenarios.
Things to Know About Data Backup
There are various ways to backup data. These different ways are developed to maximize the efficiency of data backup. By having an in-depth understanding about data backup, you could apply these types yourself in making a data backup plan for your business.
Here are some ways on how you can backup your data:
Data Backup Type #1: Full Backup
A full backup is when you keep a whole file or folder for backup. This means that not a single detail of data is missed in a full backup.
This kind of backup is effective when whole files get destroyed. Since, you made a full backup of the file, you can easily recover it.
The downside of this kind of backup, though, is it eats up time and storage space to make.
Data Backup Type #2: Incremental Backup.
An incremental backup is when you backup only the changes since the last backup. So, you would only have to make a full backup once. Afterwards, you would only have to backup the changes.
For example, you made a full backup of a document with 500 words. Then you added 3 words in the source document. When you run an incremental backup, you do not have to make a full backup of the document again.
What you only had to do is to backup the 3 words you added to the document. When you add another 4 words to the source file, you only had to backup these 4 words you added, and so on.
Knowing what is data backup and recovery in this way allows you to efficiently use storage. This is because making a backup of only the changes to files saves more storage and time than full backups.
Data Backup Type #3: Differential Backup
Differential backup is similar to incremental backup. Only that a differential backup backups the data since the last full backup, not the last backup.
A differential backup disregards any backups of changes you made. It will still backup any changes since you made the last full backup. It uses storage and time more efficiently than a full backup. This is because you no longer have to make a full backup with a differential backup.
However, differential backups use storage and time less efficiently than incremental backups. Incremental backup only backs up changes you made since the last backup, not the last full backup.
What is Data Backup and Recovery — Things to Know About Data Recovery
Recovery is another important concept in what is data backup and recovery. Recovery is simply the processes and steps in recovering lost data.
There could be a lot of possible reasons behind data lost. Factors that naturally occur such as overheating could cause data loss. Power surges, mechanical failure, malware attacks, and human errors could also be factors.
There are various ways on how you can recover lost data. First, is by relying on a backup data you made. A trend nowadays is making backup data in a secure cloud storage. Another way is to use data recovery software to salvage wiped out data. But, for worse cases, hiring a data recovery services provider is advisable.
What is Data Backup and Recovery: Relationship Between the Two
Data backup and recovery are two overlapping fields in handling data. They could have differences, but they both support one another.
Backup is important in recovery as it is useful in salvaging damaged data. Recovery is important for backup as it is the primary purpose of why backups are made in the first place. So, knowledge on both fields is important in knowing what is data backup and recovery.
They may have differing processes, though. Data backup may focus more on efficiently using data storage while making backup. Data recovery, on the other hand, may focus more on minimizing damages.
Data loss is a serious threat to your data. You may have sensitive information within your storage spaces. Any loss or breach of this information could lead to your business’s demise. So, protect it by sketching your own data backup and recovery plan.
