Backup is a point-in-time copy of data and systems so you can restore files or entire servers after deletion, hardware failure, or ransomware. The 3-2-1 rule means three copies, two media types, one offsite. Cloud backup to Canadian or approved regions helps meet data residency expectations while protecting against office fires or theft. Immutable snapshots prevent attackers from encrypting your last good copy. Backups fail when nobody tests restores. Schedule quarterly restore drills for critical apps and document Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) so staff know how long operations may be down.
