The BACKUP command is the most reliable method you can use to back up IQ data. If you are careful to follow the correct procedures, you can use system-level backups for an IQ database.
You must follow these procedures when using system-level backups for backing up your IQ database. If you attempt to restore your IQ database files from a system-level backup without these safeguards in place, you are likely to cause data loss or inconsistency, either from activity in the database while the system-level backup occurred, or from missing files.