A backup is a copy of data that is stored separately from the original. This process is essential for protecting important information, such as documents, photos, and software, from loss due to accidental deletion, hardware failure, or cyberattacks. Backups can be made on various storage devices, including external hard drives, cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox, and even physical media like DVDs. Regularly creating backups ensures that you can restore your data if something goes wrong. Many people use automated backup systems to simplify the process, allowing their devices to save copies of files without manual intervention. This practice is crucial for both personal and business data security.