Cloud, Disk or Tape? — TechKnowSurge

About this interactive

The lesson weighs the media a backup can go to. Cloud storage can be reached from anywhere, and a restore can happen right there in the cloud. Backing straight up to it can be slow, because an internet link is slower than a local one. A local disk is fast. Many organizations back up to a local disk first, then move a copy up to the cloud. A local disk sits in the same building as the servers, though. Tape comes in cassettes loaded into a deck, often a whole bank of them for a weekend backup. Its sets are rotated: the set just written goes to local storage on site for fast restores, the one before goes to an off-site safe, and the set coming back from the safe is written again. Removable disks, and once optical discs, are other options; for a small amount, even a paper copy.

What you'll learn

Match a backup need or trait to the medium that fits it: cloud storage (reachable anywhere, restorable in the cloud, limited by the upload link), a local disk (fastest, but in the same building) or tape (cartridges loaded into a deck and rotated off site)

Aligned to

CompTIA Security+

3.4 Explain the importance of resilience and recovery in security architecture.

Key terms

Cloud Storage: A service that allows users to save, access, and share files over the internet rather than on a local device.
Local Disk: A physical storage drive located on-premises used to store backup data for fast access and restore operations.
Tape Drive: A data storage device that reads and writes data to magnetic tape, commonly used for high-capacity backup and archival purposes.

Topics

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