Skip to Content

Backups Are for Continuity, Not Archival

Backups provide continuity—the ability to resume after an unexpected event—and are not archives.

A backup allows systems to be restored to their recent snapshot, but that does not guarantee the contents of those systems remain accessible. Having a copy of the file does not mean it is readable, as file formats or software may become obsolete.

See Also
Digital Objects Degrade Faster Than Physical Objects
  1. Edward M. Corrado and Heather Moulaison Sandy. Digital Preservation for Libraries, Archives, & Museums. 2017.