| Backup Types
Title : Backup Types.
Audience : Small Medium Enterprise non technical decision
maker level backup types guide.
User I.T. Knowledge 2/10
Source : http://www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm
Posted : Jan 07
Reviewed July 07
Updated n/a
Copyright : backupanytime original content.
Redistribution as is : No permission required (with
credits)
Modification : With written permission from backupanytime.
The number of available backup types (with reference
to software and hardware) has increased for every organization.
This increased availability of options is the norm with
most things involving computers given the pervasiveness
of technology in all things I.T.
It has however only become the case with backup types
in recent years. The traditional backup tape system
became popular at its inception as it was seen as the
best way to backup data. As its weaknesses (reliability,
length of time to restore, difficulty of partial restore
and failure rate) came to light over the years, it stayed
for the main as a result of little in the line of an
affordable specific solution being offered.
This has changed. The availability of new options however
comes with its own dangers and that will be the crux
of our examination of backup types available today for
small business.
Our area of examination will be the hardware options
available. The most common types used today (many of
which are unsuitable as a sole form of backup) will
be examined for the purposes of providing information
on the suitability or otherwise of same.
Zip drive :
Cheap but otherwise not a lot going for it. Small volume
and high risk. Fared well some years ago with non technical
users who would not invest in specialist backup systems,
did not understand or respect the associated risks and
had very small data requirements.
USB keyring drive :
One of the worst choices. Possibly the worst. Never
meant for backup. Common flash (delete) on entry and
exit. Very high overall failure rate. Easily misplaced
allowing you to lose your data and put in someone else's
hands.
USB hard drive :
Similar to above but with higher capacity and therefore
possibility of losing even more data. The reduction
in drive prices and the ever increasing spin speeds
has caused serious reliability issues with cynics claiming
that drives are now designed to fail shortly after their
warranty date.
Internal SATA / ISE drive :
Somewhat more secure than above but not portable. Therefore
not recommended.
You wont risk moving your data to a new location and
have no protection if a power surge or worse hits your
system on site.
Tape drive :
Some associated risks as highlighted but still better
than most of the above. A well managed tape system (with
the right software) does offer a specialist backup solution
to a backup savvy user.
R.A.I.D. :
Excellent fail over but not a backup. If system is destroyed
or stolen the drives suffer same. A good raid system
is designed to keep your system going while you replace
a failed drive. Don't confuse redundancy or fail over
with backup.
N.A.S. :
Very good on site storage solution but again suffers
all local infrastructure risks such as power surge.
A welcome assist on just about any network but not a
backup.
The question you may be asking now is if all of the
above have such obvious weaknesses; what should I use?
The answer is multiple drives, specialists software,
in system redundancy and off site dead (not power affected)
copies with automated archive management and information
life cycle tools.
This is obviously very expensive. When you use backupanytime
you effectively purchase a share in the above. This
allows you the benefits of a corporate system while
only paying for your small business usage. Contact us
today and we will arrange a free, no commitment trial
of the backupanytime online backup system.
If you found this document helpful you may like to
visit www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm
or our website proper at www.backupanytime.com
If you are a system administrator and would like technical
details please register your interest on our contact
page requesting membership of our private white
paper area for I.T. Professionals.
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and our support will be there when you need it”
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