Backup and data recovery procedures

Backing up is the process of making additional copies of information, so that if the original is lost/damaged/corrupted, it can be restored.

In general, it is not necessary to make entire copies of everything when backing up.

Instead, the following system is employed:

• First, make a complete copy of everything
• On subsequent backups, only record details of what has changed since the initial backup

A recommended backup solution is to run a ‘son, father, grandfather’ scheme: that is, daily backups (sons) kept for perhaps one week, with father backups (a weekly backup kept for a month) and grandfather backups (a monthly back, kept for perhaps six months).

Backups should always be stored in a separate location to the data being backed up, and ideally should be stored without network connection, to minimise the risk of damage from malware or other ‘accidents’.