Snapshot vs. Backup

Snapshots and backups both preserve data — but in different ways. A snapshot freezes the state of a server or volume at a point in time and usually sits on the same NVMe storage as the original. It's created in seconds and is ideal for a quick rollback point before an update. But if the underlying hardware fails, the snapshot is gone with it. A backup is an independent copy kept in a separate location, protecting against hardware failure, accidental deletion or ransomware. Rule of thumb: snapshots for fast, short-term rollback points, backups for real disaster recovery. In the cloud the two complement each other well.

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