Data Backup Plan: Optical Discs

I remember a time when computers weren't even sold with CD-ROM drives, let alone recordable CD-ROM drives. Back then, everything was done with a floppy disk. Now, CD-ROM drives have given way to DVD-ROM drives. It is hard to buy a computer today that doesn't even include a recordable DVD-ROM drive.

While affordable Blu-ray recordable drives are a few years off, today the more practical optical choice is that of the DVD. In this plan I talk about using only optical discs for backing up your data.

Optical Disc - An Easy Solution

Every computer store sells DVD discs in several size packages. The most popular is probably the large spindles that offer 100 or more discs. This allows you to backup or burn hundreds of gigabytes (GB) of data with just one purchase.

While this sounds good, there is something to keep in mind: not all DVD discs are created equal. Many of the discs that you purchase for cheap aren't good for storing your data. They are created cheaply so they can be sold cheaply. This usually means that the DVD discs won't last long and you could potentially lose all your data.

DVD discs are notorious for become corrupted over time. It is important, therefore, to make multiple copies of the same disc to help ensure you can recover your data when you need it.

When using DVD discs to backup your data, it is important to always use good quality media such as Taiyo Yuden, Verbatim, Sony and Mitsui Gold. These brands have been known to provide excellent media and should help keep your data safe.

Limitations

Besides the above points of reliability, one factor to consider when choosing a backup plan that only consists of optical discs, is that of storage space.

The most common single-sided, single-layer DVD disc can hold up to 4.7 GB. While many people may find that a single disc is all they need, others, such as photographers, may find that very limiting.

When choosing a backup plan, you should always plan for future disk storage space needs. If you plan on taking a lot of digital photos in the future, you should choose a plan that can satisfy the storage needs of those photos. You can always continue to burn multiple discs, but then managing a lot of discs (don't forget about duplicating the data on the discs) can be cumbersome. In a situation such as this, it will be important to create your own backup workflow.

If you do have a lot of DVD discs, actual physical storage space may be an issue. The more discs you have, the more space you will need to store them.

Another limitation is that once data is written to a disc, it can't be changed. Unlike an external hard drive, you can't edit the files backed up on a DVD disc. While many times you may not want to, if you accidentally burned the wrong copy of a file, you can't change it.

For many, however, overcoming these limitations won't be an issue as long as they put together a backup plan that works for them.

Backup Plan Results

Item	Rating
Cost	4 - This is a fairly cheap backup method, especially when you consider the price per storage space.
Setup	5 - The setup is very easy. You simply connect the external hard drive and power it up. The operating system should automatically detect the drive and configure a drive letter for it.
Disk Storage Space	3 - There are several types of DVD discs that provide different amount of storage space. The most common is the single-layer, single-sided, disc that provides 4.7 GB. If you have a lot of data, however, you may need a lot of discs.
Redundancy	3 - When using optical media for backing up your data, it is always a good idea to make multiple copies. Using a backup plan that includes optical media allows you to easily do this by burning at least two discs instead of just one.
Media Durability	2 - Cheap DVD and CD discs are known to have a short life span which doesn't help when backing up your data. It is best to stay with high-quality media for data backups.
Offsite Backup	4 - Optical media are great for backing up your data and moving it offsite. You just have to remember to move the media offsite.

Conclusion

While optical discs are readily available, and are expensive, it is important to always use high-quality media for your backups. Cheaper media may not be reliable with keeping your data safe.

Since the discs are removable, they allow you to easily store your backed up data offsite, away from your computer. This is an important point when protecting your data. As with other media, ensure you store the discs away from direct sunlight and in a cool, dry place.

For easy of use, however, it may be beneficial to include a rewritable media to go along with your DVD discs for a better backup plan.