💾 Backups
A backup is a copy of data you can restore if the original is lost or damaged. Choose the right strategy for your needs:
Full Backup
A complete copy of all data. Slowest to create & restore, but gives total protection for disaster recovery.
Incremental Backup
Only saves changes since the last backup. Fast and light, but recovery requires chaining multiple backups.
Differential Backup
All changes since the last full backup. Faster recovery than incremental, more storage than incremental.
Mirror Backup
An exact real-time copy of data. Instant restore, but accidental deletions mirror instantly too.
📍 Where to Store Your Backups
Onsite Backup
Easy to set up. Fast access. No internet required to back up or restore. Best for day-to-day recovery.
Offsite Backup
A physical copy stored at a different location. Protects against local disasters like fire or theft.
Cloud Backup
Automatic, accessible from anywhere with internet. Great as a third redundant layer of protection.
🏠 Onsite Backup
Storing data on local physical media — portable hard drives or flash drives. A second internal drive can serve as a live backup; if the primary fails, downtime is minimal because drives typically warn of failure ahead of time.
🚗 Offsite Backup
Same physical media concept, but the drive is taken to a separate building. Protects against scenarios where both the computer and a local backup could be lost at the same time (fire, flood, theft).
☁️ Cloud Backup
Data is stored on remote servers accessed via the internet. Log in from anywhere to retrieve files. Many services offer automatic syncing. Free tiers have limited space — choose a paid plan for full coverage.
