Backup is the Hispanicization of back up , an English expression that means ‘backup’. It is mainly used in computer science, where it means a backup copy of the information stored in an electronic device. In Spanish, this concept is also known by the names backup, backup security and backup copy.
The ultimate purpose of the backup is essentially to allow the restoration of the data once it has been lost or the device has been rendered useless. Thus, backup and restoration are complementary processes.
In order to guarantee information, people, companies, institutions and organizations make a periodic backup , which protects them against scenarios such as:
- Material errors of the user, who may have unintentionally deleted fundamental files or applications from his device.
- Obsolescence of the device, which can generate functional or physical damage to the device, compromising access to stored information.
- Computer attacks or cyberattacks, that is, deliberate attempts to intervene, manipulate and damage a computer system with different purposes.
In addition, users must backup the data of their devices both before updating the operating system, as well as before switching devices.
Supports and backup techniques
Today there are several options available to users to make a backup adapted to their needs. On a small scale you can use external hard drives, pentdrives , SD cards, CD’s, DVD’s, etc. On a large scale, as in the case of companies and institutions, backup can be done on local servers.
Today one of the most practical and safe support is the cloud, ie, a worldwide network of remote servers interconnected as a single ecosystem.
The cloud is also available for private use. Some companies offer services through applications such as Dropbox, Google Drive or iCloud.
In addition to these supports, there are a set of techniques to make backup processes more efficient. These are executed through software or applications, since they are extremely complex.
As an example, deduplication (elimination of duplicate data), compression (understanding of the weight and volume occupied by the data) and encryption (a security system to protect the confidentiality of stored information), among others , can be mentioned.
