Why backups matter#
Data is the core asset of any system. Hardware failure, human error, ransomware — any incident can cause irrecoverable loss. Data without a backup is not data.
Backup strategies#
- Full backup: periodic complete copies, easy to restore
- Incremental backup: only the changes, saving space
- WAL archiving: enables point-in-time recovery (PITR)
Common tools#
- PostgreSQL’s built-in
pg_dump/pg_basebackup - pgBackRest: open source, parallel and encrypted
- Cloud snapshots: simple, but coarse-grained recovery
Key practices#
- Run restore drills regularly to prove backups work
- Keep copies off-site against facility-level failures
- Monitor backup jobs and alert on failures
Summary#
A backup counts only if it can be restored. Make drills part of the routine so you stay calm when it matters.