Data are the most important part of information systems. High-quality IT environment provides tools to protect data directly in systems where they are processed, e.g. controlled access through authentication and authorization. We also protect the communication paths, usually by using encrypted channels.
Finally, it is very important to protect data from unexpected events such as human errors (sometimes unintentional or intentional deletion of data), technical failure (failed drive) or even a breakdown. Therefore, it is recommended to back up data.
When choosing a backup solution, it is necessary to take into account various factors. The most important is of course the size of backed up data and frequency of backup operations. The chosen solution must be powerful enough to back up the data in a defined time period at which it is possible to perform a backup.
Backup can be performed by different technologies, but it always must take account of the requirements for renewal. If a quick recovery is desired, the entire virtual servers or physical servers are backed up by disaster-recovery technology. If a quick recovery is not desired, it is sufficient to back up data or important settings. Among other technologies, there are continuous backup, replication techniques or special agents to ensure maximum data integrity.
Backup technology should be preceded by a thorough analysis of the environment and the backed up systems. The qualified solution may then be defined together with the quantitative and qualitative requirements for backup and recovery. This solution includes hardware and software components, but also specific backup models, and backup and restore processes.