What is Data Restoration?

What is Data Restoration?

Data restoration involves copying backup data from secondary storage and restoring it to its original or a new location. It's crucial for returning lost, stolen, or damaged data to its original state or relocating data. This process is distinct from data recovery, which focuses on retrieving lost, deleted, corrupted, or inaccessible data.

Examples of data restoration include restoring a database to a previous state after accidental deletion of records, or moving files to a new server as part of an infrastructure upgrade. Data restoration techniques vary based on the data type and the backup solution in use.

How does data restoration differ from data recovery?

Data restoration and data recovery, while related, serve different purposes. Data restoration is about returning backup data to its original or new location, typically from a backup that was intentionally created for such purposes. In contrast, data recovery involves retrieving data that wasn't specifically backed up, often due to accidental deletion, corruption, or hardware failure. Data recovery is more about salvaging data from compromised storage devices.

For instance, logical data recovery deals with software-level issues like file corruption, while physical data recovery involves hardware repairs. Instant data recovery and continuous data protection offer real-time solutions for data loss prevention.

What are the types of data recovery?

Data recovery can be categorized into logical and physical recovery, alongside instant recovery and continuous data protection. Logical recovery addresses software-related data loss, such as file corruption or accidental deletion. Physical recovery is necessary when the storage device itself is damaged. Instant recovery refers to the rapid restoration of data access, and continuous data protection ensures data is backed up in real-time, minimizing data loss.

Examples include:

• Logical data recovery: Retrieving a corrupted document.
• Physical data recovery: Repairing a hard drive to recover its data.
• Instant data recovery: Quickly restoring access to a database after a crash.
• Continuous data protection: Real-time backup of a file as it's being edited.

Each type of data recovery addresses specific scenarios, emphasizing the diverse strategies needed for effective data management and protection.