--- title: "Backup or archiving? — ZEBR.ai" description: "Backup and archiving are two different processes that address very different problems." url: "https://zebr.ai/en/blog/backup-or-archiving" markdown_url: "https://zebr.ai/en/blog/backup-or-archiving.md" language: "en" published: "2016-07-01T10:13:05+00:00" alternates: cs: "https://zebr.ai/cs/blog/zalohovani-nebo-archivace.md" sl: "https://zebr.ai/sl/blog/varnostno-kopiranje-ali-arhiviranje.md" sk: "https://zebr.ai/sk/blog/zalohovanie-alebo-archivacia.md" hr: "https://zebr.ai/hr/blog/sigurnosno-kopiranje-ili-arhiviranje.md" sr-Latn: "https://zebr.ai/sr-latn/blog/bekap-ili-arhiviranje.md" bs: "https://zebr.ai/bs/blog/sigurnosno-kopiranje-ili-arhiviranje.md" sq: "https://zebr.ai/sq/blog/rezervim-kopjesh-apo-arkivim.md" fr: "https://zebr.ai/fr/blog/sauvegarde-ou-archivage.md" es: "https://zebr.ai/es/blog/copia-de-seguridad-o-archivado.md" de: "https://zebr.ai/de/blog/backup-oder-archivierung.md" pt-BR: "https://zebr.ai/pt-br/blog/backup-ou-arquivamento.md" pl: "https://zebr.ai/pl/blog/kopia-zapasowa-czy-archiwizacja.md" it: "https://zebr.ai/it/blog/backup-o-archiviazione.md" nl: "https://zebr.ai/nl/blog/back-up-of-archivering.md" hu: "https://zebr.ai/hu/blog/biztonsagi-mentes-vagy-archivalas.md" ro: "https://zebr.ai/ro/blog/backup-sau-arhivare.md" tr: "https://zebr.ai/tr/blog/yedekleme-mi-arsivleme-mi.md" id: "https://zebr.ai/id/blog/pencadangan-atau-pengarsipan.md" --- [Home](https://zebr.ai/en/) [Blog](https://zebr.ai/en/blog) Backup or archiving? # Backup or archiving? [Acronis](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=acronis) [archiving](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=archiving) [backup and recovery](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=backup-and-recovery) [blog](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=blog) [e-mail](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=e-mail) [file storage and sharing](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=file-storage-and-sharing) [GFI Software](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=gfi-software) Backup and archiving are two different processes that address very different problems. 01/07/2016 · 4 min read · ZEBR.ai editorial team *Backup and archiving are two different processes that address very different problems.* While backup is the primary method of protecting business data, enabling its rapid and complete recovery when needed, archiving, on the other hand, provides cost-effective storage with the option of immediate access to selected information. Ideally, the two processes complement each other. Nevertheless, users sometimes confuse the two terms and, for example, use a backup solution to back up information intended for archiving, thereby complicating and disproportionately extending the backup and potential recovery process. **Backup** Let us describe at least two fundamental differences between backup and archiving. The first difference is the data. Active information is backed up, containing all operational data used for the company's day-to-day operations, such as live design data, production data, current orders, and so on. The backup process includes copying key company information to storage, whether local or in the cloud. Even after the backup is performed, the data remains in the production system, so if the backup is lost, for example, the company continues to operate—albeit at increased risk—but can easily create the backup again. Another differentiating factor is access to data. In the case of backup, this is optimized for transferring large volumes of data, also because not only individual data objects but also applications or operating systems can be backed up. The process of restoring data from a backup is primarily focused on speed so that the company's operations can be restored as soon as possible in the event of data loss. Data backup is absolutely essential for every business—its purpose is to move current data to another location in case of an incident or disaster. Backups should clearly be automated and regularly tested. It is also necessary to determine how far back in time backups will be created. There are two backup options—local storage and the cloud. According to an Acronis survey, 91% of business customers currently prefer local backup solutions, 6% prefer cloud-based ones, and 3% use both; however, the popularity of the cloud is gradually growing—assuming a comparable price, more than 50% of customers would consider switching to cloud backup. Czech households and small offices most often rely on the **[Acronis True Image](http://acronis.cz/domacnosti-a-kancelare/produkty/true-image-home/)** backup solution, while companies can use the **[Acronis Backup](http://acronis.cz/backup/)** solution. **Archiving** Archiving technology addresses something different. It is primarily intended to retain older or outdated data for a certain period, usually based on regulatory requirements or the need to retrieve older information contained, for example, in corporate emails. Specialized archiving solutions typically move information intended for archiving to storage that is more cost-effective than in the case of backup. Unlike backups, archived data exists in only one copy, so in the event of a system failure, the company may lose this data entirely, although this does not necessarily mean an immediate disaster for the company. Access to archived information is designed to provide immediate granular access to stored information, with the ability to search for and access individual files or emails. Unlike backup systems, an archiving solution cannot provide complete system recovery because it contains only a subset of business data. Archiving makes it possible to keep all data from the company's history in an archive. In SMB companies, it is generally sufficient to archive email in the state in which it was received and sent. Archiving email is legally just as important as archiving business correspondence, and because most invoices are now sent electronically in PDF format, an email archive is even required by accounting legislation. An archiving solution enables fast information searches, which is a major benefit for users—according to a GFI Software survey, more than 90% of Czech companies often encounter the problem of employees losing or being unable to find important emails. In the SMB segment, the popular solution is **[GFI Archiver](http://gfi-software.cz/gfi-mailarchiver/)**, which enables users to conveniently search older emails directly from the widely used Microsoft Outlook email client. Backup is not archiving, nor is archiving backup: while backup completely returns you to where you were at the moment of backup, archiving returns only the files and emails created up to the moment of archiving, i.e., theoretically up to the present. Therefore, it is recommended to combine both approaches. Article author: ZEBR.ai editorial team Read on ## More related articles [All articles](https://zebr.ai/en/blog) Contact ## Do you need a solution for yourself or for your client? 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