| In the first part of this article series, I talked about | | | | your computers could certainly gain access to your |
| the three main threats to the data on your | | | | data. This issue aside, saving your files to a web |
| computer. I talked about the need for a data backup | | | | server is certainly an option. |
| solution that protects your data properly. In this | | | | The limitation to this data backup solution usually |
| article, I'll outline the most common data backup | | | | revolves around the cost for the web server |
| solution options available to you. | | | | storage. While it is usually cost effective for up to 2 |
| A simple data backup solution | | | | GB of data, it isn't appropriate for backing up an |
| A simple way to backup your data is to save | | | | entire hard drive worth of data. |
| everything to CD. By burning your vital information to | | | | In House Hardware Data Backup Solutions |
| a CD-ROM, you can have another copy of your data | | | | Another data backup solution is to equip your |
| if something goes wrong with your computer. Burning | | | | computers with RAID compatible motherboards and |
| your data to a CD-ROM will provide rudimentary data | | | | install multiple hard drives in each computer. This |
| backup protection. There are some problems with | | | | option protects your computers from hard drive |
| this approach however. | | | | crashes. It will usually require the services of a |
| Burning your files regularly to CD requires human | | | | computer hardware technician to setup. Done |
| intervention and effort. It isn't automatic. You have | | | | properly, it can pretty much protect you from all |
| to take time out of your schedule to do it. People | | | | hardware failure type data loss. |
| get busy, things happen and before you know it, you | | | | This solution doesn't usually protect you from theft |
| haven't done a data backup in over a month then | | | | as the extra hard drives for RAID storage are usually |
| BAM! Your data is lost. | | | | installed in your computer or in other equipment on |
| The second major threat to using CD's as your data | | | | site. It usually won't protect you from fire either so |
| backup solution is that there are limitations to CD | | | | this method does have its limitations. |
| media. The first is that they won't survive a fire. If | | | | Use a combination of all three data backup solutions |
| your place or office burns down and you've stored | | | | For maximum protection, you should consider using a |
| your CD's on site, your data is gone too. The second | | | | combination of all three data backup solutions for |
| problem with CD media is that the media itself | | | | maximum protection. Burn critical documents to CD |
| degrades over time. A recent study found that even | | | | on a regular basis. Get a web hosting account with |
| CD's that were advertised to last for 100 years were | | | | lots of storage and upload critical files to the web |
| loosing data after just two or three years. | | | | server. With this option however, keep in mind that |
| Burning your data to CD is certainly much better than | | | | unless the data is encrypted on your end, an |
| doing nothing but it has limitations. | | | | administrator of the web server could potentially |
| Saving Data to a Web Server | | | | access all your data. |
| With the advent of inexpensive online data storage | | | | Finally, along with burning a CD and using an off site |
| options, it is now possible to archive your most | | | | web server, get a qualified computer technician to |
| crucial data online. This option potentially protects you | | | | install a RAID system in your computer systems. If |
| from theft and it is an off site option so it protects | | | | cost is an issue, get at least one of your computers |
| you from fire. The only way theft could risk your | | | | installed with a RAID capable hard drive and at least |
| data is if your computers are not password | | | | one other hard drive. |
| protected by default and you choose to save all your | | | | Using these three data backup solutions, you will |
| passwords automatically in your applications. If this is | | | | minimize the risk to your data and to your livelihood. |
| the case, someone who gains physical access to | | | | |