Snapshot

A Snapshot is a point-in-time image of a data set within a storage environment that enables quick recoveries to an earlier state.

Technically, snapshots are usually created via copy-on-write or redirect-on-write methods: instead of copying data completely, only the changes after the time of capture are recorded separately. Snapshots are therefore created in seconds and are storage-efficient – ideal for safeguarding data sets before updates, migrations or maintenance windows and for keeping operational interruptions short.

The distinction from backup is important: a snapshot lives within the same storage environment and does not replace an independent, separately stored data backup – if the primary system fails, the snapshots are affected as well. Immutable snapshots that cannot be deleted before a period expires, however, are an effective building block of Ransomware Protection, because they make it harder for attackers to manipulate short-term recovery points.