An SQL Server backup is a copy of database files and related metadata created so an organization can restore systems after failure, corruption, or ransomware. It is not just raw storage: backups can preserve tables, user accounts, configuration details, transaction history, and other operational records that reveal how a business runs.
In cyber security, backups matter because they are both a recovery asset and a high-value target. If attackers can read or steal them, they may extract customer data, credentials, internal identifiers, or sensitive business documents. Defenders therefore protect backups with strong access control, encryption, offline or immutable storage, and separate administrative privileges. In attacks, threat actors often advertise backup theft to increase extortion pressure or to undermine recovery efforts.