The terms data backup and data storage are often used synonymously. In reality, however, they mean two different processes. We explain the difference and show you how you can not only save your files with TeamDrive, but also back them up.
What is data backup?
Data backup is the regular copying of data to another data storage medium. The aim of this process is to protect data from possible data loss. This is important for all companies that attach importance to IT security. In addition, backing up data is also one of the most important points in the basic data protection regulation.
The reasons for backing up data are many and varied. IT security, compliance with the GDPR, but also protection against hardware defects or ransomware infestation are among them. The actual data protection process is also called backup. During backup, the files are stored separately from the actual data storage location. Especially when sensitive data are processed, it is recommended to make a backup at least once a day.
Data protection – cloud or external hardware
There are many ways to back up data. The most common way of backing up data is to overwrite it on an external data carrier such as an external hard disk or a USB stick. But also cloud services are becoming increasingly important for data backup. Their advantage is essentially their portability and the saving of costs for additional hardware. A further advantage is the allocation of access rights, which grant each authorized person access to them. This makes cloud services particularly important for companies.
What is data storage?
In contrast to data backup, data storage – also known as archiving data – refers to the long-term and, above all, unchanged storage of data. Although a data backup can also store data, these are regularly overwritten with current data versions. For this reason, archiving of data primarily refers to completed data, images or videos.
Types of data storage
However, long-term archiving of data on external data carriers can be useful. This is because they are usually not changed and therefore do not require permanent, unrestricted access. However, analog storage media also pose a threat to data security. Because due to chemical decomposition processes, this information can be lost. For this reason, regular copying of the archive material in combination with error checking may be absolutely necessary.
Backup options for companies
Many companies rely on servers and NAS drives for both data protection and long-term data storage. However, keeping hardware available can be costly. Therefore, there is a trend towards combining with cloud services. TeamDrive can be integrated into your IT system with little effort and, either cloud-based or self-hosted, it can also back up large volumes of data.
The data to be backed up is not only located on German servers, but is also stored for disaster recovery purposes. Thanks to versioning, even individual files can be restored.
TeamDrive as data storage and data back-up for private users
Nothing is more annoying than when the hard disk is suddenly defective or a virus has spread. With the help of TeamDrive, private users can now also create a backup quickly and easily. And in an emergency you can access and restore your backed-up data. In this way you protect yourself against data loss and ensure that your data is backed up privately. You can also create archives with TeamDrive. You can store your data in these archives in an unalterable form, even in the long term. You can set the retention periods for the archives individually. As soon as the periods are exceeded, the data is automatically deleted by TeamDrive. In this way TeamDrive not only fulfills the strict requirements of the GDPR, but also the requirements of the principles for the proper management and storage of books, records and documents in electronic form, as well as for data access (GoBD).
