Backup vs. Archival
Backup vs. Archival
Backups are different from archives. Many people use their backup as an archive. Wrong!
- A backup is not an archive.
- An archive is not a backup.
Backups
A backup is some type of copy of your data to recover in case of deletions, crashes, screw ups... Most backups are retained only for a few days to a few weeks. Later backups replace earlier ones. A backup is a short-term insurance policy for disaster recovery.
Archives
An archive is designed to give access to old data, files or photos. Archived photos are usually outside of the traditional backup cycle. The storage requirements are very different from backup’s storage requirements:
- Media longevity: will the media last 10 or 20 years?
- Technology longevity: will you be able to read the media in 10 or 20 years? Where can you find floppy drives, Zip drives, Jazz drives...1
- Data authenticity
- Usually off-line2
Purpose
- Backups usually do not include archive.
- Archives do not include the current photos.
1 If you need to ask what these are, you have not been around long enough to see the technology cycleS. These were the usual archival technology that has disappeared a long time ago. ↑
2 The archives are usually stored on other drives or other media ↑
Backup vs. Archival
Backups are different from archives. Many people use their backup as an archive. Wrong!
- A backup is not an archive.
- An archive is not a backup.
Backups
A backup is some type of copy of your data to recover in case of deletions, crashes, screw ups... Most backups are retained only for a few days to a few weeks. Later backups replace earlier ones. A backup is a short-term insurance policy for disaster recovery.
Archives
An archive is designed to give access to old data, files or photos. Archived photos are usually outside of the traditional backup cycle. The storage requirements are very different from backup’s storage requirements:
- Media longevity: will the media last 10 or 20 years?
- Technology longevity: will you be able to read the media in 10 or 20 years? Where can you find floppy drives, Zip drives, Jazz drives...1
- Data authenticity
- Usually off-line2
Purpose
- Backups usually do not include archive.
- Archives do not include the current photos.
1 If you need to ask what these are, you have not been around long enough to see the technology cycleS. These were the usual archival technology that has disappeared a long time ago. ↑
2 The archives are usually stored on other drives or other media ↑
