What is the importance of the "Create a backup" step before firmware updates?

Creating a backup before firmware updates is critical because it ensures that you have a restore point in case something goes wrong during the update process. Firmware updates carry the risk of introducing issues, such as software incompatibilities, bugs, or even complete system failure. Having a backup means that if the update does not go as planned, you can revert to the previous firmware version without losing configuration settings or important data, thus safeguarding the system's operational integrity.

While speeding up the update process, preventing downtime, or categorizing backups as mandatory can be associated with firmware updates, these are not the primary reason for creating a backup. The main focus remains on the recovery aspect, making it a vital step in ensuring system resilience and reliability throughout the update procedure.