Are Archiving and Backup the Same Thing?

I have been thinking about the terms "archiving" and "backup" for a while now. At times I seem to use them interchangeably. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that they are similar but not the same.

With both archiving and backup you should follow the same principles. This means that you should chose good quality media, make several copies of the same data, and store the data offsite and in a cool, dry place. If all these principles are the same, are the terms the same? Not quite.

The biggest difference between archiving and regular backups and the length of time you are looking to protect and preserve the data. For backups, you are looking to update the same files on a regular basis. For example, when you backup your e-mail files, you will probably be updating them on a daily basis to ensure you have the most recent copy. You won't be storing those files and viewing them in 20 years.

When it comes to archiving, you are looking to store the same files long-term. For example, with each digital photo you take, you won't (or shouldn't) update that photo, but would like to store it so you can view the same photo 20 years into the future.

Genealogists are, and should, be involved in archiving data. They are probably busy scanning in documents and old photos so that future generations can learn about their family history. Those documents, or photos, won't change unless someone decides to re-scan the originals.

Data files that are backed up can be changed on a regular basis, and so need to be available all the time so updated files can be copied. Archived files, on the other hand, don't change so can be safely stored away and only brought out when they are needed.