Offsite Backup - What is it?

In many of my posts I have discussed various methods of backing up your data. When I talked about the methods, I try to stress backing up your data offsite. It is important to do so for a variety of reasons. If you are unsure about what I mean with regards to offsite backup, then read on.

For those that haven't heard the term offsite backup, then I'll explain what it means. Offsite backup is simply moving your backed up data to a different location than your original data.

The biggest reason why this is important is because it helps protect your data. Imagine if your data was in your home. You backup the data to a DVD and then put the DVD in a closet, or leave it on your desk. Now imagine if your home was to suffer a terrible disaster, such as a fire, and everything was destroyed. Since your computer and your backed up data were in the home, all of your data would be lost. Now, if you move that DVD to another home, such as a family member's or a friend's home, then if a fire had destroyed your home, your data would still be safe.

Moving your data backups to an offsite location isn't all that difficult. You just need a few things:

1. A place to store the data.
2. A storage media that can easily be transported.

To store your backup offsite, you first need to think about a good location to store your data. Some suggestions include the following:

• A family member's house.
• A friend's house.
• Safety deposit box in a bank.
• Your office workplace.
• Online backup service provider.

You will notice I mentioned an online backup service provider in the last point. For many, this could be a good method of backing up your data and ensuring your data is offsite. With an online backup provider, you can configure an application to automatically backup your data. I discuss this more in the post What to Look for in an Online Backup Service?.

As for storage media, any of the following are good candidates to help backup your data offsite:

• CD or DVD - ensure you use high-quality discs.
• USB flash drive.
• Memory card or memory stick - same as those used in digital cameras.
• High-capacity magnetic tape - although probably too expensive for home use.
• External hard drive - not as portable as the first three options.

The first three options are probably the easiest removable storage media and are readily available anywhere. The second and third choice are probably the easiest to use since they are small, come in large sizes, and are re-writable. They may last longer than a DVD or CD as USB flash drives are rated to last for up to 10 years, depending on how they are used.

Once your data has been backed up, you can then transport the media to another location where it will hopefully remain protected. Remember, however, that you should always check your data backups on a regular basis to ensure they are still in good condition.