What is defined as a backup?

A backup is defined as a copy of data made to prevent loss or damage to the original. This definition emphasizes the primary purpose of a backup, which is to ensure that important data can be recovered in case of an incident such as accidental deletion, hardware failure, or cyber-attacks. Backups serve as a safety net, allowing users to restore their data to a previous state, thereby helping to maintain continuity and security of information. This process involves creating regular copies of files or entire systems, which can then be stored on different media, like external hard drives, cloud storage, or off-site locations.

The other options describe concepts that relate to data management but do not align with the standard definition of a backup. A temporary storage solution for unused files does not ensure protection against data loss, while a file generated during login is typically a system-related action without backup significance. Lastly, an encrypted version of original data may enhance security but does not represent a comprehensive backup strategy, as it doesn’t imply recovery or redundancy of the data itself. Therefore, the definition highlighting the purpose of backup in preventing loss is the correct choice.