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Backup
What is a Backup?
What is a Backup?In cybersecurity, a Backup is a copy of computer data stored separately, often on a different device or in the cloud, to be used for restoration if data is lost or corrupted. This practice is crucial for protecting against data loss due to accidental deletion, hardware failures, natural disasters, or cyberattacks, like ransomware. By making these available, organizations can minimize downtime and financial losses.
Definition:
A copy of files and programs made to facilitate recovery, if necessary.
SOURCE: SP 800-34; CNSSI-4009
The primary purpose of a cybersecurity backup is to provide a restore point in case of data loss or corruption. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including accidental deletion, software errors, hardware failures, natural disasters, or cyberattacks.
There are various types of these performed, including:
- Full: Create a complete copy of all data on a system.
- Incremental Copy only the data that has changed since the last full or incremental one.
- Differential: Copy all changes made since the last full instance.
Organizations often employ backup strategies such as:
- Offline: Storing instances on devices not connected to the network, which helps protect against ransomware attacks.
- Offsite: Storing copies in a different location or building to protect against disasters like fire or flooding.
- Cloud: Utilizing cloud-based storage for copies, which offers remote access and scalability.
