Definition
A backup is a copy of data, configuration, or an entire environment stored so it can be restored after a failure, user error, corruption, or loss of information. An effective backup policy defines the scope, frequency, retention period, location, encryption, and authorized persons. A backup is not the same as high availability or replication: it is intended to restore an earlier, correct state. It is therefore necessary to check regularly not only whether a backup job ran but also whether restoration actually works. Backup parameters should reflect the required recovery point objective (RPO) and recovery time objective (RTO) for the specific process. Explore Cloud & Infrastructure.