A technique used in data storage and backup that enables a system to perform a routine backup of data, even if the data is being accessed by a user. Hot backups are a popular backup solution for multi-user systems as no downtime to perform the backup is required. If a user alters the data during the backup process (e.g. makes changes at the exact moment the backup system is processing that data) the final version of the backup may not reflect those changes. Hot backup may also be called a dynamic backup or active backup.
