We explain what a backup is and what it is for to make a backup copy. In addition, the steps that must be followed to perform backups.
What is a backup?
In computing, it is understood by a backup (of English: back up, “Backup”, “booster”), backup, backup or reserve copy to a copy of the original data from an information system or a set of software (files, documents, etc.) that is stored in a safe place or a secure region of the system memory, in order to be able to have your information available again in the event of any eventuality, accident or disaster occurs and causes your system loss. In other words, it is a copy just in case that is usually updated every so often as a security measure.
Today’s computer systems can be the victim of various types of loss: remote attacks by hackers or computer viruses, physical destruction of storage media, and even accidental deletion by an authorized user. In these cases, backup is used manually or automatically to restore lost information, thus minimizing data or information losses.
These data losses are really common: 66% of Internet users have experienced them, so it’s very usual have backups in different formats: sectors of the hard disk, removable storage devices or even in the same cloud, that is, on Internet servers. This form of prevention is recommended in all digital prevention rules and large companies invest part of their budget and their data storage capacity in backing up their most important and confidential information.
How to make an effective back?
To perform a backup, the following steps are usually followed:
- Selection. Of the key material to back up: irreplaceable information, of great economic value, etc.
- Storage. In a secure system according to the possibilities of the individual or the organization. If possible, you should do a local backup (your own) and an external backup (in another company or service) that is convenient.
- Upgrade. From the backup taking into account the modified data of the information to be saved and the frequency with which it is modified, so that the backup is always as up-to-date as possible and the loss of information is minimized.
There are numerous programs, pages, companies and services online that offer data backup and recovery plans. The IT security sector is, in an increasingly digitized world, a continuously growing IT area.