Keeping Your Data Backups Safe
It is very important to backup your data on a regular basis. This ensures that if a disaster happens, you won't lose files, such as digital photos, that you can't replace.
While regular backups can help you restore your data, it isn't much good if you backups aren't safe as well. In this article I will outline some points that you should keep in mind when maintaining your data backups.
Use high-quality media. In computers not all components are created equal. Brand-name components are built better than cheaper no-name brands. This is extremely true for storage media, such as DVD's. Cheap, bargain-basement, bulk spindles are no good for storing your data. They may not last a few months before being corrupt, and losing all your data. Your best bet is to use well-known brands such as Taiyo Yuden, Verbatim, Sony or Mitsui Gold DVD.
Always make more than one copy. Most people probably only copy their data to one media or location. This means that if that media became damaged, you data could be lost. It is important, especially with optical discs, to copy your data to at least two places. Instead of burning one disc, burn two. This way if one disc becomes corrupted, you can, hopefully, still recover your data from the second copy.
Store your backups offsite. When it comes to backing up data, nothing is worse than an event destroying the original data and your data backups. This is why it is very important to store your data away from the location of the originals. For media such as optical discs and USB flash drives, simply move those to another building. Any easy way of storing your data offsite is to use an online data backup service provider. Simply backing up your data online automatically moves your data offsite.
Store your backups properly. The way your store your backup media is just as important as remember to actually do the backup. Make sure the media that contains your data is stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. For optical discs, store them in plastic jewel cases, then then store them on their side.
The above points should help you keep your data backups safe and secure. This will ensure that when you need your data, you can easily restore the files without any problems.
While regular backups can help you restore your data, it isn't much good if you backups aren't safe as well. In this article I will outline some points that you should keep in mind when maintaining your data backups.
Use high-quality media. In computers not all components are created equal. Brand-name components are built better than cheaper no-name brands. This is extremely true for storage media, such as DVD's. Cheap, bargain-basement, bulk spindles are no good for storing your data. They may not last a few months before being corrupt, and losing all your data. Your best bet is to use well-known brands such as Taiyo Yuden, Verbatim, Sony or Mitsui Gold DVD.
Always make more than one copy. Most people probably only copy their data to one media or location. This means that if that media became damaged, you data could be lost. It is important, especially with optical discs, to copy your data to at least two places. Instead of burning one disc, burn two. This way if one disc becomes corrupted, you can, hopefully, still recover your data from the second copy.
Store your backups offsite. When it comes to backing up data, nothing is worse than an event destroying the original data and your data backups. This is why it is very important to store your data away from the location of the originals. For media such as optical discs and USB flash drives, simply move those to another building. Any easy way of storing your data offsite is to use an online data backup service provider. Simply backing up your data online automatically moves your data offsite.
Store your backups properly. The way your store your backup media is just as important as remember to actually do the backup. Make sure the media that contains your data is stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. For optical discs, store them in plastic jewel cases, then then store them on their side.
The above points should help you keep your data backups safe and secure. This will ensure that when you need your data, you can easily restore the files without any problems.