What describes the function of backups in data management?

Backups play a crucial role in data management by serving as a safeguard against data loss. This function is vital for individuals and organizations, as data can be lost due to various factors, including hardware failures, accidental deletions, cyberattacks, or natural disasters. By creating backups, users ensure that a copy of their important data is securely stored and can be restored when needed. This protection is particularly important for critical data, such as business records, customer information, or personal files, which, if lost, could lead to significant disruptions or losses.

Other options, while they may relate to data management in some capacity, do not accurately summarize the primary purpose of backups. For example, enhancing system performance and improving security are outcomes that can be influenced by good data management practices but are not the fundamental reason for implementing backups. Long-term storage typically refers to archiving data rather than protecting against immediate data loss.