![]() The best practice for peace of mind is to have three copies of your data if possible, in different media/places so that no one data disaster can wipe everything out.Ī cost-effective and secure strategy includes the following: Long-term security of your data is more about the quality of your backup method than the inherent reliability of the storage medium, as long as you buy good quality (avoid super-cheap no-name brands). It's best used for your most important files (think gigabytes) and can be a valuable part of your overall plan. But it isn't recommended as your only form of backup, largely due to the long time it takes to upload/download large amounts of data (think terabytes) and the ongoing subscription cost of cloud services ($60–$170/year). Cloud storage/backup gives you secure offsite storage backup accessible from internet connected devices anywhere.Discs are cheap (under $1/disc) but low capacity (4.7GB) and only useful for archiving small projects. DVDs can be reliable for years, but only if handled and stored carefully.See our Portable media storage device reviews for how we rate a range of hard drives, SSDs, and USB flash drives. Storage drives are more expensive, but faster. Because hard drives are high capacity and cheap, they're the often first line of defence against data loss. Storage drives such as hard drives (HDs), solid state drives (SSDs), and flash storage can last for quite a few years in normal usage, or they can fail at any minute.While most forms of electronic storage are quite reliable, none are infallible. There are also cloud services for online backup, some of which can also back up to a local drive. Some dedicated PC desktop backup programs support cloud backup as well as local backup. These increase as you add more space which, when coupled with the costs of internet access, can end up being a relatively expensive option. ![]() ![]() Cloud storage: This is becoming an increasingly common alternative to local media, and while it offers advantages such as offsite backup, increased security and the freedom to access your data anywhere, cloud storage services usually have subscription fees.Some can also backup to NAS (network attached storage), FTP (external file server storage) and even tape. Physical storage: These programs usually let you copy your data to CD/DVD or an external thumb/hard drive (local media).But what do you back up to? Backup software gives you two broad options: You can use the backup software supplied with the operating system or third-party software and, ideally, automate it so it's set-and-forget. We all know we should back up our data regularly, if not continuously. In this case, you'll need to find a program that can 'clone' your drive and restore it to a different computer. Things get a bit trickier however, when you want to restore your data to an entirely different computer, because you're working with different components (e.g. Most backup programs will let you create an exact duplicate or "clone" your system, so you can copy it onto the larger drive. Say you're using a 500GB drive, for example, and you want to upgrade to a 2TB drive. This is often referred to as disaster recovery.īut did you know you can also use backup software to more easily upgrade your PC? A full backup lets you restore everything to a new hard drive in the same computer, even if the original is still working. Three and four are typically used when your PC cannot start, which means rebuilding the operating system, programs and files on the same computer. The first and second examples will usually let you access your desktop so you can recover lost files or roll the operating system back to an earlier state. You can restore a PC's entire hard drive contents to a new hard drive when the old one, or part of the hardware, has failed, or when the system will not boot to the desktop (disaster recovery). repair problems caused by operating system (OS) failure.restore a drive to a previous state, a working system that's infected by a virus causing data loss.restore files/folders following accidental deletion or corruption.Our buying guide details everything you need to know so you can find the ideal program. The software should also be flexible and easy to use, so you can create a backup procedure designed to fit your needs. There are three functions essential to any good backup program.
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