This option in your control panel allows you to compress your directories and/or files located in your account. This is an excellent way to backup your own files.
When you choose the option from your Control Panel you will see the following screen. We've added some additional instructions in red.

Once you've compressed your files, you can FTP the saved file to your hard drive for safe keeping or leave it in your account, the choice is yours to make.

If you ever need to restore the compressed file, just return to this part of your Control Panel and select the file that is compressed and click Extract.