Written by MrBackup
on March 18, 2014
Backup or Archive? The literature on electronic data backup and archiving can be confusing. The underlying assumption is that data changes continuously and that current ‘live’ data will not look the same as older historical data. Backup is used for short-term operational requirements; Archives are used for non-operational long term reasons. Multiple backups are always advised. Our simple definitions are as follows:
- backup
- noun – a copy of current data, with a short life cycle, primarily for use in the recovery and restoration of the original system in the event of data loss, intended to restore data with the express purpose of recovering a live system from data loss; verb – the act of backing up data
- archive
- noun – an older copy (backup) of data retained for an extended period of time, primarily used in restoring a system to an historical Point-in-Time for analytical purposes or statutory compliance, not suitable to restore a live system to operational efficiency; verb – the act of archiving data