💾 Backup vs. Archive: What's the Difference and Why Your Files Need Both

Frank Bravo 0:09
Bravo and welcome to your Tech Makeover, the podcast that gives you tips and tricks to help simplify and get more out of the technology in your life. In this episode, we're diving into the world of data storage and the difference between backups and archives. It said that by 2025, the world will generate a staggering amount of data each day, highlighting the importance of understanding online data storage. Many people assume that archiving is simply another form of backup, but that's not the case. Let me break down the difference between these two concepts. Backups serve as a safety net, allowing you to recover data in the event of a hardware failure or data corruption or other types of loss, like having an insurance policy for your valuable file. On the other hand, archives are designed to manage space limitations and retain data for long periods of time. Now, you might be wondering how these distinctions can help secure your ever expanding data footprint. Backup ensures that your files are retained for a period. You require protecting from loss or unauthorized access, and can easily be restored or retrieved as needed. The primary goal of a backup is to make a copy of your files you can't afford to lose. Regular backups are crucial, especially when you're frequently changing files. Backups can include your files on your computer or devices, operating systems and applications solutions like Backblaze or Apple Time Machine if you're on a mac or iCloud backup for your iPhone are often convenient backup options. I did a separate episode on backup, so take a look on the channel for that. If you're interested in more information about how to secure your backups, so why should you back up your data? The example I usually give to people is dropping your device and it shatters into a million pieces. Or, as happened to a friend of mine, dropped her phone into a porta potty. But it's not the only reason. In the event of a hardware failure or data loss. Having a backup ensures that you don't lose valuable files. It also could protect you from ransomware attacks, where a solid backup strategy can restore a compromised operating system without restoring or resorting to paying for a ransom. Archives, on the other hand, are copies of data created for long term storage and reference. Unlike a backup, archives can have multiple purposes. They can be used for a permanent record of documents or backing up your films or photos or other files that you don't need access to all the time. Archives are typically created based on a criteria such as the age of the file or the last time the file was accessed, and whether or not the project is currently being worked on or is completed or clothed, and depending on what the archive is and how it's stored. You might also want to consider backing it up. It may be your only copy of the archive, and if the medium or the device that it's stored on fails, you could lose those archived files. When it comes to restoring and retrieving data, backups and archives function differently. Backup systems are used to restore files or device on devices at a particular time. So if I made a backup today, my files would be as of today. On the other hand, archive systems retrieve files based on how they're saved. If your files are not well organized. Retrieving them will be like searching for a needle in a haystack, but at least you have a general idea of what you're looking for. It's important to remember that backups are not meant to serve as archive backups. Keep copies of your data that you are currently using. While archives are designed for long term storage and reference, trying to use a backup as an archive can lead to loss in other complications. In my setup, I use both. Since I'm on a mac, I use Apple Time Machine on all my machines to back up local data, and then I use back plays for cloud backups. I also have a network attached storage device, so think of it as a giant file server attached to my network, where I archive files that I don't need access to all the time. But then those files are backed up using a Backblaze as well. So I hope that I've explained both backups and archives and why they're essential for different purposes. If you have a lot of files, it's wise to invest in both, just like I have. So do you feel like you have a good solution to store your data? Let me know how you're doing. And as always, if you have any ideas for topics or you'd like me to cover various different things, please feel free to contact me via email at Frank at your Tech Makeover dot. That's it for now. Thanks for listening to your tech makeover. If you haven't already, make sure you follow the Facebook page on facebook.com your tech makeover, because that's where I'll break down these episodes. But before I go, I want to remind you to subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast platform so that you don't miss an episode. You can also check out your Tech Overcome, where you can see more information about each episode. And if you'd like to find out more about me, please visit Bravo. It's. Com. Until next time, I'm Frank Bravo. In this has been your tech makeover.