What does creating a backup copy of data entail in Excel?

Creating a backup copy of data in Excel primarily involves ensuring that a duplicate of the important data exists outside the current working file. While copying and renaming a sheet within the same workbook might allow for some data preservation, it does not constitute a true backup. A backup ideally implies the creation of an independent copy that remains untouched in case of loss or corruption of the original data.

The more accurate understanding of backing up data would align with saving the entire workbook as a different file, as this secures the complete data set while allowing for easy retrieval later. This can be done by using "Save As" to create a separate file that acts as the backup, which is a more comprehensive and practical approach to data protection.

Other methods such as exporting data to different formats or compressing files into ZIP do not fundamentally provide a backup in the traditional sense, since they may alter the data format or not include all aspects of the file. Hence, the act of saving the workbook as a different file is vital to maintaining data integrity and safety.