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Backup Direct WebsiteGlossary
- Attix 5
- a leading provider of backup and recovery software. A form of technology supplied by Backup Direct's online server and PC backup service.
- Backup policy
- the procedures and rules you currently use for ensuring adequate data backups are made. This includes the technology and methodology used and the process by which you restore system information from your backup copies
- Backup software
- the software applications installed on computers that initiate a backup process. Usually described as the user interface (UI) that allows the person to control the backup procedure remotely.
- Backup window
- the time period required to complete a backup procedure. Normally, a backup procedure uses system resources that have a detrimental effects on system and network performance. Backup windows can be managed to ensure business productivity is minimally affected.
- Bandwidth resources
- the amount of bandwidth available to facilitate an online backup process. Actual bandwidth needed depends on amount of data being protected, average daily change rate and determined internet restore time objectives.
- Block level backup
- a backup that only contains the changes to files at a sub-file or block level. Block are smaller than files and therefore reduce the amount of change that needs to be sent to the vaults, but may require longer processing times to identify the changes.
- Byte level backup
- a backup that only contains the changed bytes of data. Bytes are smaller than blocks and therefore provide the smallest amount of change that can be sent to the vaults, but may require longer processing times to identify the changes.
- Cache
- typically, a local store of recent backups left on site for fast access. A local cache avoids having to wait for bulk restores to be recovered over the internet from the vaults.
- CDP
- Continual Data Protection, where the backup system logs every change to the host system in systematic intervals. This is generally enabled by saving byte or block-level differences rather than file-level differences.
- Continual Data Protection
- where the backup system logs every change to the host system in systematic intervals. This is generally enabled by saving byte or block-level differences rather than file-level differences.
- Data Defense
- the technology behind Backup Direct's Managed Data Encyption solution. Originally developed by Iron Mountain Digital.
- Data encryption
- the process of encrypting data for restricted viewing. Only the person with the encryption key can decode the data and view it.
- Disk to Disk
- a backup that transfers data from the disks on the computers to disks in the vaults - as opposed to send the data to tapes. This method provides for rapid recovery, especially to older archives of data.
- Delta backup
- as differential backup, a backup that only contains the files that have changed since the most recent backup (either full or incremental). The advantage of this is quicker backup times, as only changed files need to be saved.
- Differential backup
- a cumulative backup of all changes made since the last full backup. The result is quicker recovery time, requiring only a full backup and the latest differential backup to restore the system.
- Disaster recovery
- otherwise referred to as DR, its the process of recovering business operations after a disaster and restoring or recreating data. It is in any company’s best interest to minimize its DR period.
- Email Security
- Anti-virus, spam and phishing service. Removes all emails containing malicious content before they reach the user's email server.
- Full backup
- a backup of all (selected) files on any given system.
- Full Disk Encryption
- a method of encrypting data on a hard disk at a level below the operating system. Such a method does not rely on the operating system to manage the encryption and the disk cannot therefore be read if the disk is transferred to a new machine.
- Hardware as a Service
- HaaS - the provision of computer hardware on a pay-as-you-go basis - either in the 'Cloud' or on premise.
- Hosted Virtual Failover
- the technology behind Backup Direct's Business Continuity Service. Originally developed by PlateSpin® and VMWare® technology.
- Hot backup
- a backup of a database that is still running, and so changes may be made to the data while it is being backed up. Some database engines keep a record of all entries changed, including the complete new value. This can be used to resolve changes made during the backup.
- Incremental backup
- a backup that only contains the files that have changed since the most recent backup (either full or incremental). The advantage of this is quicker backup times, as only changed files need to be saved.
- Initial Backup
- the first or seed backup of a set of data, usually directly to a data centre or vault. A seed backup can be done online over the internet or using a media device such as a secure hard disk with encryption.
- Iron Mountain Digital
- the world's leading provider of Software and Storage-as-a-Service solutions for backup and archiving. Provides the technology behind Backup Direct's online backup solutions and managed data encyrption.
- Media spanning
- the process of backing up data to multiple storage sites or mediums. This is normally conducted when there is a significant amount of data that needs protection.
- Multiplexing
- a method of combining multiple backup data streams into a single stream that can be written to a single storage device.
- Near store
- backing up data to a local staging backup device like a tape or hard drive. Typically located onsite for later archival restore.
- Offsite vault
- facility where data is stored away from normal place of operations. In professional online backup services, this is a sophisticated, disaster hardened, temperature controlled, high security bunker.
- Online backup
- the backup of data and systems over the internet to specialist storage vaults - as opposed to local backups to tape.
- Open file backup
- the ability to back up a file while it is in use. This is made possible by taking snapshot views of files even while they are open.
- Recovery point objective (RPO)
- the point in time that a restored data backup will represent. This is normally the point any system will be restored to upon recovery. The ultimate RPO is the point just prior to data loss. Optimization of RPO involves increasing the frequency of synchronization between source data and backup storage device.
- Recovery time objective (RTO)
- the amount of time elapsed between data loss event and restoration of full business activity. This relates to not only the time taken to retrieve files and systems but how long it takes to reinstate them and maintain normal business activity.
- Remote backup
- as online backup - the backup of data and systems over the internet to specialist data centres
- Remote store
- backing up data to an offsite backup facility, either directly from the live data source or from an intermediate near store device.
- Reporting
- notifies the user on the efficiency of the backup process. Can be customized by the user to determine the frequency of updates.
- Restore time
- the amount of time it takes to restore data that has been backed up. This time varies depending on the amount of data being brought back.
- Retention time
- the length of time in which currently protected of data will remain available for restore.
- SaaS
- Software as a Service - the provision of standard software solutions provided over the internet to customers on a pay-as-you-go, flat-fee basis.
- Software as a Service
- SaaS - the provision of standard software solutions provided over the internet to customers on a pay-as-you-go, flat-fee basis.
- Scheduling
- the frequency with which backups of files and systems take place. Online backup allows full automation of scheduling removing the human element of this process.
- Site-to-site backup
- backing up data over the internet to an offsite location under the user's control. Similar to remote backup except that the owner of the data maintains control of the storage location.
- Snapshot
- where an instantaneous picture of a file system is taken to preserve a ‘point in time’ static, read only view of the file system.
- Synchronization
- the process of making sure that two or more locations contain the same up-to-date files. In online backup, initial synchronization is a one-time event to get the initial replica of a file under protection.
- Virtualization
- Virtualization is the creation of a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, such as an operating system, a server, a storage device or network resources.
- Webroot®
- provides industry leading security software for consumers, enterprises and small and medium businesses worldwide. Webroot is the technology behind Backup Direct's Email Security, Continuity and Archiving service.
