An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), also known as a battery backup, provides backup power when your regular power source fails or voltage drops to an unacceptable level. A UPS allows for the safe, orderly shutdown of a computer and connected equipment. No matter the use of the computer or device, it is always ideal to utilize either a battery backup or a UPS to protect your devices. Power and electricity outages, surges, and brownouts can cause data loss as well as physical damage to your computer components.