Computer Backup Options – The 2 Main Options
There is really only 2 principal computer backup options that need consideration and they relate to deciding where you want to store your data. This article looks at both local and remote data backup choices along with the pros and cons of each.
Data backup of information on your computer comes down to making a choice between copying your data to a local storage device (tape, external hard drive, flash) or to a remote storage device (online computer backup).
Local Data Backup
With this approach it is really irrelevant whether you backup to a disk tape or any other storage systems as the process remains the same – you install software that copies/synchronizes data between the computer and external storage.
Benefits
- The data is not transmitted off of your PC so less prone to being hacked online.
- Economical to implement as external drives are cheap and free software like Microsoft SyncToy can run the synchronization.
Drawbacks
- The computer and storage device now become a single point of failure. If both are lost/stolen then your data is gone (so the responsibility is on the user to store each separately).
- The software often requires manual activation to synchronize data (i.e. no continuous backup). This may not suit users looking for a fully automated solution.
Remote Data Backup
With this approach, the data on your computer is backed up to a server on the internet, traditionally provided by an online computer backup service. This has grown in popularity as faster internet speeds have allowed the easy transmission of large data volumes.
Benefits
- You can access your data, or recover lost data, from any web enabled device around the world.
- Backup automation is the norm with these solutions so you don’t need to manually/actively be scheduling time for doing backups.
Drawbacks
- Doesn’t work well on slow broadband connections. Inaccessible when broadband is down.
- There is the ongoing monthly cost of renting the service.
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