What Backups Don’t Cover (Common Misconceptions) Print

What Backups Don’t Cover (Common Misconceptions)

1. Backups are not a version control system

   1. They won’t reliably restore “one single page change” unless that change aligns with a backup point.

2. They may not include external services

   1. Third-party SaaS data (external email providers, CRM systems, payment gateways) is not automatically included.

3. They won’t fix underlying issues by themselves

   1. If malware exists in the restore point, restoring can reintroduce the same infection.

4. They don’t prevent user error

   1. If you overwrite content and don’t notice for days, the correct version may rotate out.

5. They don’t guarantee a specific point-in-time

   1. Shared hosting restores are typically date-based (not guaranteed to the exact minute).

   2. ERP restores may support date/time within available restore points.

6. Bottom line

   1. Treat backups as best-effort recovery, and keep your own backup strategy for business-critical operations.