Backup

A backup is a copy of data or programs kept for later restoration. For a business, what matters is which earlier state is available and whether all required parts can be recovered together.

A fictional order application stores orders in a database and attachments in file storage. If only the database is backed up, documents may be missing after restoration. A complete test therefore includes the order, its attachment and the access permissions needed to use them.

Synchronisation alone is not automatically an adequate backup: if an accidental deletion is copied immediately, a separately recoverable earlier version is needed. A successful backup notification does not replace a restore test either. Scope, retained data states and the recovery procedure belong together.

Sources

• NIST CSRC Glossary: backup