How to Back Up Your Data

Even if you already have a data backup solution in place, you may be interested to see how your methods/equipment match up to the other available options. If you don't have a data backup solution, this might be the time to give it some serious thought! Below, we have outlined 4 Data Backup Solutions, each with varying success rates and levels of protection.

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Give us a call or Stop in our store and the IDEaS Computers Technicians will be glad to consult with you and give you our recommendations. Not all computer setups are the same—we'll tailor a backup solution that specifically fits your needs and computer system.

Four Data Backup Solutions

Simple Backup to a Portable Drive

• TechDish Rating: Good
• Protects Against: Drive failure, errant deletions, file corruption & virus infection; and theft, fire, other loss (if the portable drive is stored off-site)

Portable Drives are small (easily fit in your pocket/purse/briefcase/etc.) and yes, portable! While these are intended more for easily transporting data from one computer to another (eg. home and work PC), they can also be a very effective backup solution for small amounts of data. Portable Drives do not have a very high capacity, so they are not ideal for large files (eg. photos, videos, music, movies, etc) or a full system backup. But, if you are looking to backup documents, contacts, and/or small amounts of photos, this is a viable solution.

Portable Drive backups are also the cheapest to implement, as these devices come at a very affordable cost.

Recommended Devices

Full or Incremental Backup to External Hard Drive

• TechDish Rating: Better
• Protects Against: Drive failure, errant deletions, file corruption & virus infection; and theft, fire, other loss (if the external drive is stored off-site)

An External Hard Drive is a moderately portable device, but is much more stable, and has a much higher capacity than its portable counterparts. You can use an external hard drive for transfering files from one computer to another, but these devices are really intended to stay put in one location, as they tend to be larger and usually require an external power supply.

You can use an External Hard Drive to manually back up all your important files, or you can pair it with third party software that automates the process for you. TechDish recommends Acronis True Image Home Edition for an excellent automated backup solution. Read more about what Acronis can do in our Software Spotlight.

Recommended Devices

Redundant Storage Device

• TechDish Rating: Best
• Protects Against: Drive failure, errant deletions, file corruption & virus infection; and theft, fire, other loss (if the device is stored off-site)

If you want a bulletproof backup solution, this is it. Redundant storage devices contain multiple drives that are arranged in a RAID array to ensure that your data is safe, even if one of the drives fail. Some of these devices are also configured for Network Storage (NAS), meaning you can perform backup operations from your entire network to one device.

So, if you are concerned about drive failure, and really want to make sure your data survives this potentially catastrophic event, a Redundant Storage Device is your answer.

Recommended Devices

Off-Site Storage

• TechDish Rating: Best-est
• Protects Against: Drive failure, errant deletions, file corruption & virus infection; and theft, fire, other loss

The best way to combat the risk of theft, fire, devastating weather, and other major catastrophes is an Off-Site Backup Solution. This is usually implemented with a rotation of backup devices on- and off-site. Many of our clients have up to 5 backup devices that are rotated in and out of the home/office. Those that are rotated off-site are stored in a different building, at home, and even sometimes in fireproof safes & vaults.

In recent years, many web services (notably Amazon S3) have also started offering online data backups as well. Your data is automatically transferred through a secure internet connection to the web services' servers for safe keeping. Keep in mind however, that file transfer speeds come into play on this. If you have a large amount of data, this may not be a viable option—it all hinges on the speed of your internet connection.

If the integrity of your data is crucial, an Off-Site Backup Solution is the absolute best way to ensure it stays safe. We like to call users who implement an off-site backup solution "Data Backup All-Stars".

Recommended Devices