Difference Between Backups and Archiving a Website
Aspect | Backups | Archiving |
---|---|---|
Purpose | Disaster recovery to restore data after loss or corruption. | Long-term retention of data for future reference or compliance. |
Data Use | Used to recover active data to its most recent state. | Used to store inactive data that is no longer regularly accessed. |
Frequency | Performed regularly (daily, weekly, etc.). | Performed infrequently, only when necessary. |
Data Lifespan | Short-term; older backups are overwritten by newer ones. | Long-term; data is retained indefinitely and not overwritten. |
Storage Cost | Higher due to the need for quick restoration from high-speed media. | Lower; stored on cheaper, slower media as fast access is not critical. |
Accessibility | Highly accessible for quick restoration. | Less accessible; retrieval times are slower. |
Management | Mostly automated with minimal manual intervention. | Often involves manual processes to select and maintain archives. |
What is an Archive Site?
An archive site is a website or online platform that collects, preserves, and provides access to previously used documents, digital artifacts, or other forms of content for research, reference, or educational purposes.