Data Protection
Data Protection – Do You Backup?
Whether a computer is used for work, play or something in between, it’s subject to a number of threats that can render stored data useless. That’s why computer manufacturers build in backup reminders into their programming. While those popup messages can be a bit annoying, they’re important to heed for more reasons than most computer users ever stop to think about.
Just What Is a Backup?
In its simplest form, a computer backup is simply a copy of data files. This means important bits are safeguarded thanks to the creation of a mirror image on a storage device other than the computer the file was originally stored on.
Computer backups can technically vary in their extent and the types of data they protect. Operating systems today don’t necessarily get delivered in a box with a handy CD-ROM that can be used again and again to fix glitches when they happen. That’s why Windows, for example, will remind users to create a “backup disk” for programming. This process can take a little bit of time, but it protects an operating system’s owner from a lot of trouble should the OS go down.
Regular data backups are a bit different. While they, too, protect important files, this type of backup tends to target the data a user puts on a machine personally. It involves taking important files and storing them other drives, such as a thumb drive or external hard drive, just in case the original copy on the computer becomes corrupted, gets hit by a virus or something else happens.
The time and effort involved in a backup can vary greatly depending on how much data needs to be stored and what mechanism is used for creating the backup in the first place.
Backup Options
There are a number of different backup options computer users can employ to protect their operating systems and the data stored on their machines. For that operating system backup, a blank CD or a large capacity thumb drive usually gets the job done right. Once the file is created, an OS backup can be used to restore a machine to working order should programming glitches occur.
Created data, such as documents, photographs, presentations and others important bits of information can be backed up in a number of different ways. Some of the options for safeguarding this type of information include:
- Disk and drive-based backups: When the amount of important stored data isn’t too terribly large, computer users can protect their work by simply backing up copies of original files onto external drives, thumb drives, disks and other devices, such as tablets or laptops. This process typically involves only the time it takes to select “must protect” files and copy them over to another storage system for safekeeping.
- Offsite backups: As data storage and protection have become more important in today’s world, companies are offering services that provide “offsite” storage for backups. This means that data is stored on secured servers in remote locations. This option can be a sound choice for safeguarding data and the actual backups created can be continuous. Some programs, for example, run in the background on a computer, creating backups of newly added data on a regular basis automatically. That means a user might not even need to perform a function to get a backup to occur.
- Cloud storage: This is a more mobile offshoot of offsite storage, but it’s similar in scope. “Cloud” backups are meant to enable users to retrieve their data from a variety of devices and locations, which means they might not have to be on a specific machine to retrieve stored data. Cloud storage has become especially popular as the use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets has increased. Files stored in the “cloud” can be automatically and instantly accessed on phones, tablets, laptops and other devices designated by the user.
Why Backups Matter
While it might be a pain and even a little time consuming to create data backups using some of the more old-school methods, doing so is important. Whether a computer owner chooses to use that thumb drive or opts for off-site storage, the action of creating a backup protects important files from such threats as:
- Viruses – If an original file is corrupted by a virus or other piece of malware, a clean backup can render the information usable again. This is important for protecting documents, photos, videos and other files that users simply do not want to part with.
- Crashes – Threats against computers and the data they store aren’t always malicious. The fact is computers crash and they break. When the do, the data stored on them can be lost forever. Having some sort of backup system in place enables users to retrieve those files they can’t do without.
- Theft, fire and other disasters – Offsite storage is favored by many because it helps protect against unseen threats that have nothing to do with viruses and hackers. Computers can be stolen. They can be destroyed in fires, floods and other natural disasters. While the machines might not be retrievable after such a disaster, if data backups are performed, the information stored on them doesn’t have to be gone for good.
Additional information:
- SNIA (The Storage Networking Industry Association): Introduction to Data Protection: Backup to Tape, Disk and Beyond (PDF)
- SNIA: Trends in Data Protection and Restoration Technologies (PDF)
- Boston University: How to Safely Store your Data in the Cloud
- Reed College: Backup Your Work
- American University: Frequently Asked Questions about Backing Up Your Data
- Naked Security by Sophos: Backing up your files
- Stay Safe Online: Back It Up
- AntiVirusAZ.com Security Center: Protecting Digital Content with Backup and Restore
- AntiVirusAZ.com FAQ Section: Backup and Restore