What process involves regularly creating copies of data to prevent loss?

The process involving regularly creating copies of data to prevent loss is known as Backup and Recovery. This approach is fundamental in data management to ensure that in the event of data corruption, hardware failure, or other unforeseen disasters, individuals and organizations can restore their data to a previous state. Backup typically involves creating duplicate copies of files or entire systems at designated intervals, while recovery entails restoring this data when needed.

The importance of Backup and Recovery lies in its role in risk management; it helps maintain business continuity by safeguarding against data loss. Regular backups ensure that recent data can be quickly restored, minimizing downtime and potential impact on operations.

In contrast, data migration involves transferring data from one system to another, often during upgrades or changes in technology. Archiving refers to moving data that is no longer actively in use to a separate storage for long-term retention, which does not necessarily focus on preventing immediate data loss but rather on managing data lifecycle. Replication, on the other hand, involves creating and maintaining copies of data in real-time or near-real-time across different environments, but it’s typically aimed at enhancing availability rather than specifically preventing loss through scheduled backups.