A backup drive is a device whose primary function is to store backup or secondary copies of different types of data. A backup drive can be configured using a variety of backup management software to perform regular scheduled backups of important data.
Backup drives are generally hard disk-based, as the cost of hard disk storage has plummeted in recent years, but can also be tape-based or other technology. Backup drives vary in size and price from small-capacity external hard drives to large-capacity network-attached storage (NAS), RAID enclosures, and other devices. Some backup service providers will offer customers the option of receiving a disk-based backup drive via expedited shipment, containing one or more complete recent backup sets in order to perform a local restore at LAN speed.
Disk-based backup drives offer quicker restores and easier management of backup data than tape storage, but remain physically vulnerable when used locally, and are therefore not recommended as a primary
disaster recovery solution. Offsite disk-based storage used in conjunction with a backup appliance and local restore options provides more comprehensive and reliable data protection.
