It is important for professionals to regularly backup their data. Quite often the reason for losing our files is our negligence in making time for backing up the data.
When taking into account the different methods for backing data you must know that:
• What kind of data will you be backing up?
• How often will you be backing up data?
• How much data will you have to backup?
• When will you be backing data, on roads or at home?
It will be easy to determine the method if you know which type of data will you be backing up. Presentations and graphics will take more space than simple data files.
• Software programs – many professionals have found it safe to use software programs which work best with their operating system.
• Drag and drop to an external source – files can be stored as a backup on an external hard drive or to a server to which you have access.
• Disk cloning – in this method you copy entire hard drive to either a second hard drive, CD or a DVD.
• Email yourself - although this method is not useful in case you have to backup large amount of data but smaller files can be backed up in this fashion. An advantage of using this method is that you can access these files from anywhere if you have an internet connection.
Before making a decision you will have to bear in mind the circumstances in which you will be backing the data. Will you be backing it in your home or on the road?
Like different methods there are different media’s available for backing up your data. This decision may involve your personal preferences and also past experiences.
• Floppy disks – many new notebooks and laptops do not have this option. Therefore the use of this option will be limited.
• Zip disks – this may also not be a good option as zip disks and zip drives have been known to fail. However external zip drives are available in different volumes.
• CD or DVD – this can be said as the best option as many laptops contain CD or DVD write drives. The quantity that can be stored today is greater than the previous method.
• External drives – these drives are also available in different sizes. Most external drives are plug and play and also easy to use.
• Server – you can backup your data to a server if you have access to it. This will require an internet connection and also the know how of how to use a FTP server. It is important that you scan your data for viruses before you upload it to your server.
• Always scan the data before you back it up.
• Don’t forget to include essential data such as address books and other organizational data.