When Is Backup A Backup

Submitted by Syv Ritch on 29. May 2010 - 23:00

It's been such a long time since you have done a backup, you decide that tonight's the night. Get the external USB hard drive, check that it will be large enough. Oops! It's not, you will only be able to do the photos. In anyway, that's what the most important. Right?

After 4 hours, you're done. You have your backup. Actually, NO, you still don't have a backup, you only have a copy.

Backup refers to making copies of data so that these additional copies may be used to restore the original after a data loss event. These additional copies are typically called "backups." Backups are useful primarily for two purposes. The first is to restore a state following a disaster (called disaster recovery). The second is to restore small numbers of files after they have been accidentally deleted or corrupted.

Wikipedia

The purpose of a backup is to be able to recover in case of disaster such as:

  • hard drive crash
  • accidental deletion or overwrite of files or directories
  • theft, fire, floods...

A one time copy does not do that. A one time copy does not allow restoring or recovering from any disaster.

  • You will need to reinstall all the applications
  • You will need to copy back all the photos stored on the USB drive.
  • You will be missing all of your new photos!
  • You will be missing all of your new emails!
  • You will be missing all of your new contacts!
  • You will be missing all of your new word documents!
  • You will be missing all of your new spreadsheets!
  • You will be missing all of your new accounting!
  • You will be missing all of your new bookmarks!
  • ...

The backup copy must be stored somewhere else, so in case of theft, fire, or floods you still have access to the backup.