Which of the following is a key function of data backups?

A key function of data backups is to recover files in case of corruption or deletion. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity and availability of important data. Backups serve as a safety net, allowing individuals and organizations to restore their systems and files to a previous state after data loss incidents, such as accidental deletion, hardware failures, or cyberattacks. The ability to retrieve lost or corrupted files ensures business continuity and minimizes disruption.

Each of the other choices addresses different aspects of data management and security but does not specifically pertain to the primary purpose of data backups. For example, enhancing software performance relates to application efficiency, managing user access focuses on data security and user permissions, and creating an audit trail involves tracking data usage for compliance and monitoring. While these functions are important in their own right, they do not fulfill the essential role that data backups have in safeguarding information against loss.