Use Offsite Server Backup For Data Safety

Offsite server backup is extremely useful if you manage a sever that contains a lot of important data. As with any data, it is important that you now only make multiple copies of your data, but that you also physically move that data offsite.

The easiest way of performing an offsite server backup is to use an online backup service provider. By using such a provider, your data will automatically be stored in a secure location away from the original server that contains the data. The best part about using an online backup provider for to perform an offsite server backup is that you can schedule the backups to run automatically.

Protect Your Data - Get a UPS

While this blog is mainly about data backups, and how to easily make copies of your data, it is also about protecting your files. While it is very important to make regular backups of your data, it is just as important to protect your data so you won't need to restore your files from the backups.

Most people, if not all, are using a surge protector to protect their computer from the power spikes that can occur from time to time. While you should be using a surge protector, they can't protect your computer 100% of the time. If there is enough of a surge that finds its way to your protector, it may just destroy the protector and everything attached to it.

Another issue is that of power outages. I have experienced outages, and I'm sure many others have. When the power goes out, there is a chance it could damage your hard drive or files at the same time. Imagine you have been working on a document and haven't saved it for some time, and the power goes out. All changes that were made after the last save would be lost.

Many people that use laptops may not worry about the above scenario as the laptop battery would just kick in and they can continue to work. But those on a desktop, or a laptop with a bad battery, would have problems.

There is a great solution that not only keep your computer running for a few minutes after a power outage, but will also provide great surge protection at the same time.

Uninterruptible Power Supply - A Safety Net

If you would like to provide protection for you computer, and data, that will also provide you with a battery backup, I suggest you invest in a uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

These devices contain one or more batteries that are charged by plugging the unit into a standard outlet. The unit contains its own outlets that you use to power your computer, modems, routers, external hard drives, etc. The only equipment you shouldn't plugin to a UPS are printers.

The outlets on the unit provide great surge protection, and supply clean power to all equipment attach to it. When the power goes out, the UPS will automatically use the batteries to keep sending power to your equipment.

While this doesn't provide hours of running time, it does provide you with several minutes, which allows you to easily save your work, and shut down your computer.

UPS devices come in many sizes and have various ratings. To determine which one you need, you should look at how much electricity all your computer uses and then find a UPS that satisfies your power needs.

While the price of a good UPS start at over $100, it is a worthwhile investment if you would like to provide great protection for your electronic equipment and your data.

Data Backup Plan: External Hard Drive and Optical Discs

In two previous posts I talked about using only an external hard drive or only optical discs for backing up your data. I also talked about the benefits and drawbacks of using only those two types of storage media.

In this post I will talk about a backup plan that includes both of those types of media to see if using them together will create a good backup data plan.

Data Backup Plan: Online Backup Solution

I have previously talked about backup plans that include some of the most popular methods of storing data: an external hard drive, optical discs, and USB flash drives. Now I will look at a plan that doesn't use a physical media: online storage.

This method of backing up your data has been gaining popularity over the past few years as the Internet connection speeds have increased. Now it is possible to keep your data safe and secure, while at the same time have access to it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Data Backup Plan: USB Flash Drives

The most popular data backup options are probably to use an external hard drive or optical discs, such as DVD discs. These two are popular because they have been around for a few years and are easy to find and buy.

Another good a solution is to use USB flash drives. These are also available anywhere, and now come in large enough capacities that make using them for data backup very easy.