A DBMS should provide backup facilities to assist with the recovery of a database following failure. It is always advisable to make backup copies of the database and log file at regular intervals and to ensure that the copies are in a secure location. In the event of a failure that renders the database unusable, the backup copy and the details captured in the log file are used to restore the database to the latest possible consistent state. A description of how a log file is used to restore a database is described in more detail in Section 20.3.3.