In this technological age, businesses depend on online and cloud-based computer systems and storage. Try to imagine what would happen to your business if all your data was corrupted or lost. Productivity would halt, and the money would stop flowing in. This is a realistic threat for users and businesses. Businesses often implement backup and archiving systems to protect their data and make it easily accessible.
A backup is a copy of data created to restore data if said data is lost or damaged. The backup is essentially a second copy of the primary data, stored in the event the primary data is no longer usable. Backup systems will restore data if the original data is no longer accessible. Common, everyday uses of backups are on smartphones which backs up photos, apps, and account information. If the user drops and damages their phone, they can restore the data from the damaged phone’s backup to a replacement phone. Backup all comes down to restoring data if something happens to it. Whether an employee accidentally deletes data or a company’s data has been encrypted by a ransomware package, a backup system will restore your data to its original, functional state.
An archive is similar to a backup, but it has a distinct difference. The primary use of an archive is to create a copy of data for reference and retrieval purposes, whereas a backup is used to restore a previous version of the data. Its general use is to help a user find data from a long time ago. An archive can help accomplish a variety of tasks. One of its most common, everyday uses is archiving emails, which don’t need to be accessed now, but may need to be accessed later. Businesses can use archives to store old contracts and other client or business-related information, to use at a later date. In the event of a lawsuit, companies can retrieve emails, documents, and other correspondence related to a specific employee or incident. If these documents were not archived, businesses can face legal challenges if they fail to produce key documents in a lawsuit.
Managed Network Services and Management Providers, like Digital Industry, can provide Backup & Disaster Recovery services to protect your business from data loss or corruption.
