To Backup, or Archive?

    Archiving, on the other hand, is complimentary to backing up data. Archiving is used to maintain older or inactive data for extended periods of time. Archive systems typically move older or inactive information off of primary storage to dedicated systems which are optimized for low cost long-term storage. Archiving may be done, for example, by copying old emails from Outlook and storing them on another part of your hard drive. In case of computer breakdown, however, this does not protect information as the archive is stored on the broken computer. If you are archiving old files onto your computer, it is doubly important that you backup those archives to another source and store it separately from the computer.

    While backups and archives should be stored separate from your computer, for maximum security, the backup or archive should not be kept in the same building as the computer. If there is a fire or theft, both copies of the data could be lost if they are kept together. They need to be stored securely and handled with care, preferably in rooms that are temperature controlled, with a fire detection system, and in a space with controlled access.

    So, just how easy is it to retrieve files from backups and archives? Backups are ultimately designed for large scale recoveries. The data is written to optimize easy access to large volumes of information. Objects of all sizes can be restored with a backup system, but the process is geared toward larger scale recoveries so accessing a single file often takes about the same amount of work as recovering an entire server. Backups are the right tool to retrieve an application or entire system. Archives are designed with very different accessibility. They typically store files, databases, or email messages and usually also capture metadata associated with each item. The result is that an archive can provide immediate granular access to stored information and so accessing an individual file or email is typically very easy in an archive system.