What do snapshots provide in the context of data recovery?

Snapshots provide point-in-time copies of data, which means they capture the state of the data at a specific moment. This feature is particularly valuable in data recovery scenarios because it allows users to revert to an earlier version of the data if corruption or loss occurs after the snapshot was taken. By using snapshots, organizations can quickly restore their systems to a known good state, minimizing downtime and potential data loss. This time-based aspect is crucial, as it distinguishes snapshots from other forms of data backup, which may not necessarily reflect the data's condition at a precise point in time.

In contrast, continuous data backup involves ongoing copying of data rather than fixed moments, which serves a different recovery purpose. Compressed data versions and encrypted data files focus more on data size reduction and security, respectively, rather than the essential characteristic of capturing the state of data for recovery purposes that snapshots provide.