(v.) In computing the phrase backup means to copy files to a second medium (a disk or tape) as a precaution in case the first medium fails. One of the cardinal rules in using computers is back up your files regularly.
Even the most reliable computer is apt to break down eventually. Many professionals recommend that you make two, or even three, backups of all your files. To be especially safe, you should keep one backup in a different location from the others. You can back up files using operating system commands, or you can buy a special-purpose backup utility. Backup programs often compress the data so that backups require fewer disks.
Most businesses employ complete backup solutions that provides storage on removable media, data compression, automatic backups to offsite storage and automated scheduling to increase the reliability of the backups.
Webopedia Backup Resources
selective backup
hot backup
remote backup
incremental backup
cloud backup
(n.)
(1)The act of backing up.
(2) A substitute or alternative. The term backup usually refers to a disk or tape that contains a copy of data.
