Archiving should not be confused with backup.
Backup provides for recovery of files on a short-term basis.
The distinction is important to bear in mind, although many people use the terms more or less interchangeably. Also part of the process of securing your data is working safely . On the VAX, files were allowed to have multiple version numbers, which meant that you could usually go back to an earlier version of the file if you made a mistake. You should also be aware that computer viruses can cause loss of data. As mentioned above, archiving means the long-term storage of stable files, usually where the original is not retained.