← VCE Cyber Security

Backup strategies

A plan for how and when backups are taken and stored, such as scheduling regular backups and keeping copies in multiple locations.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U2O2 - Cyber Security — Module 39, VCE Software Development - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 76, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 113, VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 46, VCE Data Analytics - U4O2 - Cyber Security: Data Security — Module 81, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Network Communications — Module 141, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Data Management — Module 107

Understanding Backup strategies in VCE Cyber Security

What it does: This code keeps three backup copies, providing redundancy. Multiple copies protect against loss if one location or copy fails. Offsite copies survive events like fire or theft that could destroy local backups. Incremental backups save time and storage by only capturing recent changes. Untested backups may fail to restore when they're actually needed. Automatic schedules ensure backups happen consistently without being forgotten. If ransomware corrupts the most recent copy, older retained copies are needed to recover. Relying on a single copy means there's no backup if that copy is lost or corrupted.

Common mistakes: Line 1 skips scheduling backups, leaving no backup strategy in place. Line 2 deletes the backup instead of keeping it as part of the strategy.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 31–40) and word search (Modules 21–40).

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Learning

Duo

A backup strategy only needs one copy of data in one location.

TrueFalse

Matches

single_copy_only = True

↓

The mistake: keeping only one backup copy with no redundancy

Applying

Meanings

Term

Backup strategy

Meaning

A plan for how and when backups are taken and stored, such as scheduling regular backups and keeping copies in multiple locations.

Practice

backup_type = "incremental"

Testing

Gaps

= "full"

Check Answer

Spots

1skip_backup = True

2schedule_backup()

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Quick Questions

1. A backup strategy only needs one copy of data in one location.

A. True

B. False ✓

A good backup strategy keeps multiple copies in different locations for redundancy.

2. Which is a stronger backup strategy: multiple copies in different locations, or a single copy in one place?

A. Single copy in one place

B. Multiple copies in different locations ✓

Multiple copies protect against loss if one location or copy fails.

3. Storing backups offsite protects against loss from a local disaster.

A. True ✓

B. False

Offsite copies survive events like fire or theft that could destroy local backups.

4. Which backup type copies only the changes since the last backup?

A. Incremental ✓

B. Full

Incremental backups save time and storage by only capturing recent changes.

5. Never testing your backups is a safe part of a backup strategy.

A. False ✓

B. True

Untested backups may fail to restore when they're actually needed.

Match the Pairs

schedule_backup() → Running backups on a set recurring schedule

store_offsite() → Keeping a backup copy in a separate location

A backup strategy should keep multiple copies of data → backup_count = 3

Incremental backups save only the changes since the last backup → incremental_backup()

single_copy_only = True → The mistake: keeping only one backup copy with no redundancy

disable_schedule() → The mistake: turning off the backup schedule after running it once

Key Term

Backup strategy

A plan for how and when backups are taken and stored, such as scheduling regular backups and keeping copies in multiple locations.

Fill in the Blanks

1. backup_type = "full"

Hint: Type the name of the variable storing the type of backup.

2. backup_frequency = "daily"

Hint: Type the name of the variable storing how often backups run.

3. if backupType == "full":

Hint: Type the comparison operator that checks if the backup type equals full.

4. def rotate_backups():

Hint: Type the name of the function that rotates old backup copies.

5. offsite_copy = True

Hint: Type the name of the variable that flags whether a copy is stored offsite.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A skip_backup = True

B schedule_backup()

C store_offsite()

Line A — Line 1 skips scheduling backups, leaving no backup strategy in place.

Question 2

A schedule_backup()

B delete_backup = True

C store_offsite()

Line B — Line 2 deletes the backup instead of keeping it as part of the strategy.

Question 3

A full_backup = True

B schedule_backup()

C skip_offsite = True

Line C — Line 3 skips offsite storage, breaking the strategy of keeping copies in multiple locations.

Question 4

A backup_type = get_type()

B schedule_backup()

C store_offsite()

D single_copy_only = True

Line D — Line 4 keeps only a single copy, ignoring the need for multiple backup copies.

Question 5

A incremental_backup()

B differential_backup()

C full_backup()

D delete_all_backups()

E keep_last_copy = True

Line E — Line 5 deletes all backups instead of retaining copies as the strategy requires.

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