Data Replication vs Data Backup

Kunal R
3 min readSep 14, 2021

Hello Folks,

In the world full of databases, servers and the internet, companies cannot bear to be offline — literally. It’s very common in the Tech world to notice people using terms like backup and replication consistently. And it’s easy to guess why it is been used commonly.

Fig.1 Backup & Replication Process

What is Data Replication?

Data Replication is a broad term being utilized for innovation and processes that create copies of data, synchronize, and distribute it across a network of servers and data centres. A disaster has less impact while accessing a data due to the number of replicas. The system’s accessibility is extremely high, and the recovery process can typically be measured in minutes. Data Replication always helps, to solve most of the drawbacks of data backup.

Fig.2 Data Replication

So, what’s the main reason do organizations still use both? Replicas are constantly updated after particular interval of time and therefore lose the historical state rapidly. If we only utilize data replication, we might require an immense parallel system to support the replicated data, generally if you need to maintain long term records.

What is Data Backup?

It copies only the files and applications that are important for user and store it to a secondary location such as a hosted or offsite server. Backups are done periodically processed throughout the day, and consume an image copy (i.e. “snapshot”) of your data after a certain period of time. These snapshots can be used to restore data that has been lost or corrupted on your primary systems.

Fig.3 Data Backup

What Happens When Both Gets Merged?

Both data backups and data replication have their qualities and shortcomings. But when both are merged, they provide the definitive Business Continuity plan. Restructuring one of these plans for your business starts while having your current infrastructure assessed by specialists who looks after how both of these options work, and how best to make them work for you.

Difference Between Backup & Replication -

This is a basic overview on differences between backup and replication

Fig.4 Difference between Backup & Replication

Conclusion: -

You now have a basic understanding of some of the essential aspects of Backup and Replication. Try to gather a lot of impartial and well-rounded information about Data Recovery.

If you have any concern regarding this topic, feel free and post your feedbacks down in comment section.

Thank You.

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