Backups and recovery.

A backup is a recoverable copy of information. A recovery plan also defines how to restore service, verify the restored data, and meet acceptable recovery objectives.

Put it into practice.

Keep a versioned copy separate from the working system and test restoration with sample records. Access controls and encryption protect the backup as well as the live data.

A common mistake

Synchronization can propagate accidental deletion. A backup that has never been restored is not strong evidence that recovery will succeed.

Original independent study explanation. Revised October 2026. Practice assumptions are illustrative.