Everyone hears about "data backup" and how important it supposedly is, but many people don't really understand it. The concept is very simple; If your computer was to crash today or a tragic event such as a house fire happened, would all of your family photos, important documents and financial information be safe? That is what data backup is about, keeping your files safe. This article will discuss some backup solutions and the pros and cons of these methods.
The first type of backup we will discuss is a local backup to physical media. This means saving your files to a physical medium such as DVD's, a flash drive or external hard drive. Nowadays these devices are easy to obtain. They are readily available in most stores and the price is relatively low. Whereas discs are usually a one-time use item, flash drives and hard drives can be used over
and over again and can hold a large amount of information. These devices are small in physical size as well, so they can be stored in a safe or disaster proof box after your backup is created.
Recovering files from a local backup is an easy process. The physical device is right there in your hands, ready to be used to restore any lost files. The main con to a local backup is this; If a natural disaster occurs it can be difficult to keep your data backup safe. That is where an online backup comes to play.
An online backup means saving your files to a secure site on the internet. Companies use state of the art technology to keep your files safe, so only you have access. Online backup solutions come in many forms. Some online storage sites are free and some are paid subscriptions. With large corporations providing these services, they spend the resources necessary to keep your information safe no matter what. There are backups of backups of all your data. If a natural disaster affects your online backup provider, you can be assured your data is still safe. However, with this high level of peace of mind there comes a price.
There are three things you will want to consider before deciding to choose an online backup solution. As I said, some providers require a paid subscription to use their backup services. Depending on what features you require and how much storage space you need, pricing can be as much as $249 per year for personal use.
If you are looking for a backup solution for your business, prices go upwards of $599 per year. The next consideration is storage space. Some providers limit you on how much storage space you are allowed to use, and it is significantly less than what you get with an external hard drive. One provider limits you to 250GB on their highest grade plan. The last thing you should consider with online backups is the recovery process. In order to recover your data you must download your information over the internet. This can be a long process, even when using high speed internet.
If you were to ask around, most IT professionals agree that it is best to have a local backup as well as an online backup. Of course not everyone can do that. Look at all your options when choosing a data backup solution. If you have any important files saved on your computer, data backup is a must! And when you need help setting everything up, TekStop is here to help! Give us a call and schedule an appointment!
The first type of backup we will discuss is a local backup to physical media. This means saving your files to a physical medium such as DVD's, a flash drive or external hard drive. Nowadays these devices are easy to obtain. They are readily available in most stores and the price is relatively low. Whereas discs are usually a one-time use item, flash drives and hard drives can be used over
and over again and can hold a large amount of information. These devices are small in physical size as well, so they can be stored in a safe or disaster proof box after your backup is created.
Recovering files from a local backup is an easy process. The physical device is right there in your hands, ready to be used to restore any lost files. The main con to a local backup is this; If a natural disaster occurs it can be difficult to keep your data backup safe. That is where an online backup comes to play.
An online backup means saving your files to a secure site on the internet. Companies use state of the art technology to keep your files safe, so only you have access. Online backup solutions come in many forms. Some online storage sites are free and some are paid subscriptions. With large corporations providing these services, they spend the resources necessary to keep your information safe no matter what. There are backups of backups of all your data. If a natural disaster affects your online backup provider, you can be assured your data is still safe. However, with this high level of peace of mind there comes a price.
There are three things you will want to consider before deciding to choose an online backup solution. As I said, some providers require a paid subscription to use their backup services. Depending on what features you require and how much storage space you need, pricing can be as much as $249 per year for personal use.
If you are looking for a backup solution for your business, prices go upwards of $599 per year. The next consideration is storage space. Some providers limit you on how much storage space you are allowed to use, and it is significantly less than what you get with an external hard drive. One provider limits you to 250GB on their highest grade plan. The last thing you should consider with online backups is the recovery process. In order to recover your data you must download your information over the internet. This can be a long process, even when using high speed internet.
If you were to ask around, most IT professionals agree that it is best to have a local backup as well as an online backup. Of course not everyone can do that. Look at all your options when choosing a data backup solution. If you have any important files saved on your computer, data backup is a must! And when you need help setting everything up, TekStop is here to help! Give us a call and schedule an appointment!
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