Backing up the data on your computer is easy to do, and will save you time and money in the long run. While it is possible in the event of a disaster to recover data that has not been backed up, this process can be time-consuming and expensive. Not only that, but even with data recovery there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to retrieve data that has not been backed up.
There are several easy, reliable, and inexpensive backup solutions out there. The following are described in this article:
Online Data Backup Service
Network Attached Storage Device
DVD
CD
Flash Media
External Hard Drive
Second Computer
MP3 Player/Phone
Websites such as Flickr
Online Storage Services
Choose the one that works best for you!
Ian Macdonald is an entreprenuer and technology afficianado. His recent endeavours have been in the areas of online data backup and storage
Online Data Backup Service
Online data backup service is becoming an increasingly popular way to backup data. This method provides better security than many other backup plans.
With online data backup service, your data is sent to a remote server at regular intervals. You can either set up a leased line to a remote server yourself, or choose one of several companies to provide this service for you. Either way, once the online backup is running, data is secure and can only be retrieved through authentication. The data is not open to your network, so it remains clean and untouched through any technical issues you may experience. Data is readily available for recovery if necessary.
This is perhaps the most convenient option you could choose, since it automatically runs in the background with little to no additional investment required.
Network Attached Storage (NAS) Device
If you have a network of computers in your home or business, consider Network Attached Storage. NAS devices provide storage resources that are separate from network and application servers. This provides you with the space necessary to backup your data.
NAS devices are self-contained, and attach directly to an existing local area network. Once the device is attached, a file system is located and managed on the device. Since network attached storage runs independently of network servers, files will remain available in the event of network server downtime or other interruptions.
DVD
The DVD provides an easy, inexpensive way to backup particular files and folders that aren’t excessively large. Re-writable DVDs are even more convenient, since they can be used more than once.
Because DVDs hold more data, they are a more popular choice than CDs for data backup. DVDs hold up to 4.7GB of data, and double-layer DVDs hold 8.5GB.
DVDs are also durable, and when stored properly, will keep data safe for many years.
CD
The CD offers several advantages as a backup option. If purchased in bulk, the cost of CDs is as low as 10 cents per GB. Write times are fast, and data stored on a CD can be accessed by virtually any computer.
Since CDs hold 650-700MB, they are ideal backup solutions for files that aren’t excessively large. Data retention is less than with DVDs, but with proper care CDs will still keep your data safe for years.
Flash Media
Flash media provides a portable backup option for your photos, documents, and even video. Use flash media in the form of storage cards such as CompactFlash, Secure Digital, MiniSD, or MicroSD. Storage capacities for these cards range from 32MB to 12GB, and sizes range from about 1.5 inches square to smaller than a postage stamp. Secure Digital cards also contain security features for content such as digital music.
External Hard Drive
External hard drives sit outside of your primary computer in their own enclosure, and connect to your computer via a high-speed interface cable such as USB or FireWire. These drives offer several advantages for backing up your data.
They offer a huge storage capacity, ranging from less than 100GB to over a Terabyte, at a low per-GB cost, so you can inexpensively backup your entire hard drive with room to spare. You can even use an external hard drive to backup more than one computer.
Another advantage of external hard drives is that they are compact enough to be portable, and can connect to any modern computer for data transfer.
To get the most out of your external hard drive, you can also purchase backup software that provides automatic data backup and data recovery features.
Second Computer
If you have just upgraded your computer, keeping your previous computer to use as backup may be an ideal option. Advantages to this solution include hard drive speed and capacity, and the fact that you can continue working seamlessly on your second computer should something happen to your primary system.
MP3 Player/Phone
MP3 players and phones can double as external storage devices. Their portability allows you to conveniently store and transfer data between computers. Depending on the model, a driver may not be required.
Websites such as Flickr
Websites like Flickr are known for their photo sharing capabilities. However, these websites can also be used as repositories, providing options for the user to store, organize, and ultimately backup files like photos, art/illustrations, or screenshots.
In Flickr, for example, you can organize files using keyword tags and group them into sets and collections. You can determine privacy settings for your files, and flag them as either public or private. You have access to work with the most recent 200 files you’ve uploaded; all other files are archived and still accessible (for viewing only) via their URLs.
Online Storage Services
Online storage services provide you with the capability to upload your data to a server for safekeeping, for a monthly fee. Once your data has been uploaded, you can access it wherever there is an Internet connection available. Online storage services do not offer automated backups, and are best for backing up files such as digital photos, music, and documents in an ad hoc fashion.
