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.

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.

Data Backup Plan: 1 External Hard Drive

There are many methods you can use to backup your data. In this post I will look at one of the most common methods: using an external hard drive. What makes this method so popular is that external hard drives provide you with a large amount of disk space for a reasonable price. Also, hard drives are durable when it comes to the amount of times you can read and write data to it, and they are fairly fast.

The question is, does a single external hard drive make a good backup plan?

Choosing a Data Backup Plan

I have talked about various types of methods you can use to backup your data. Several methods include local data backup, offsite data backup and using an online data backup service provider.

Backup and Restore in Microsoft Vista

In my last post I talked about how to backup your data in Windows XP, so I decided to go ahead and move to Microsoft Vista in this one.

While Vista isn't exactly a favourite operating system for many, it does have a more elaborate backup and restore utility. The utility provides a lot of options that you can use to keep your data, and your computer, safe. Microsoft Vista includes the Backup and Restore Center. The functionality you receive with this tool depends on which version of Vista you are using.

Data Backup With Windows XP

I have written many posts about backing up your data, and also provided examples of what media you can use to store your backed up data. I haven't, however, gone into detail about how you go about backing up your files.

Windows XP is currently on of the most used operating systems. What many don't realize is that it includes a simple backup utility that can easily save your files to another location. While not as feature riched as a more pricey third-party application, for most people the Windows XP backup tool is adequate.

Data Backup Media Should Be High Quality

Choosing the right backup media is just as important as remembering to backup your data. While there are many times in your life where going cheaper won't have an effect on what you purchase, when it comes to computers, however, it makes a huge difference.

Buying cheap, bargain-basement media is never a good idea when it comes to storage media. In the world of computers, you get what you pay for, which means cheap media sill usually result in a loss of data. To avoid such a predicament, always go with brand-name, high-quality storage devices. Let's look at a few.

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.

Regularly Check Your Data Backups

Let's start this post by having a look at a simple scenario. This scenario can become a reality for many who backup their data. In this scenario we will look at someone name Fred. Fred makes regular backups of his data, almost daily. He ensures that his most important files are stored safely away.

Fred never has any problems with his backups, as he keeps one copy of his files on his external hard drive, and another one on a DVD. He doesn't have many files, so a DVD is large enough to hold all his data.

Are Archiving and Backup the Same Thing?

I have been thinking about the terms "archiving" and "backup" for a while now. At times I seem to use them interchangeably. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that they are similar but not the same.

With both archiving and backup you should follow the same principles. This means that you should chose good quality media, make several copies of the same data, and store the data offsite and in a cool, dry place. If all these principles are the same, are the terms the same? Not quite.

5 Points to Make Data Backups Easier

When it comes to data backup, it can be complex if you aren't used to doing it regularly. Many people may not want to run a backup because it can seem like a chore that takes a long time to complete.

If you feel backing up your data is a bothersome chore, then maybe following these points will help to make your life easier.

How to Keep Data Backups Safe

While you should backup your data on a regular basis, it is also important to make sure your data backups are safe.

Tips for Backing Up Data

While everyone should backup their data, how you backup your data is just as important as when you perform the backup. If you don't take care when protecting your data, or your archives, then it could just be possible that your backed up data can also be lost.

Below are several tips that I would like to share with you. The tips aren't supposed to be the rules for backing up, but they may help with ensuring your have good backups.

6 Reasons You May Not Backup Your Data

Data backup is probably something everyone doesn't think about with regards to computers. The average person probably just downloads their pictures/videos from their camera without thinking about backup up the files. All you school work you do may be stored on the hard drive in your computer, and no where else.

Imagine what would happen if your hard drive suddenly failed, and the data was no longer retrievable? How would you feel knowing that all your hardwork was gone, possible for good? There are many reason that people probably don't backup their data. Let's look at a few reasons.

What is the Cost for Data Backup?

While there are many options that you can choose to backup your data, which method you choose depends on a number of factors. In this post I'll concentrate on the financial aspect of data backup. This is always a concern, especially since you will need to finance your chosen backup method. Let's look at the media that you can use to backup your data.

The first option is to use CDS or DVDs. It is probably more practical to use DVDs since they are a few cents per disc and can hold much more data. You can buy DVDs in batches of up to 100 or more, so you should always have enough. The reason you will need so many is because you can't reuse them, at least you shouldn't use the re-writable types. I would, however, look for the quality makes of DVDs to ensure you will be able to read your backups for years into the future.

How Long Will My Data Backups Last?

One of the most common questions regarding data backup is the lifespan of the media storing the data. It is hard to determine the lifespan of any media as how it is stored and used directly impacts its longevity.

While the lifespan of CDs and DVDs has been asked many times over the years, let's look at the lifespan of some other common methods of backing up data.