July 30th, 2010

Only you can protect your data.  If you are not sure of your backup status, take steps now.  Even if you’ve had a computer repair shop prepare a backup for you, verify that it is working once in a while. 

Have an offsite or secure backup available.  This means that you should backup to a removable media then store it in a fire and waterproof box, or in a separate location. 

Keep in mind that automatic backups can stop working.  If you’re relying on an automated backup, be sure to check it often.  Examine the data on the backup to verify that all of your critical files are there.  With this in mind, using different backups will increase your chance of recovery should you lose your hard drive and your automatic backup.  Examine the data on the backup to ensure that all of your critical files are there.   You may choose to back up your hard drive every week, then back up to DVD once per month. 

Some backup media wears out and needs to be replaced.  Tapes are especially vulnerable to this, but it is true for all media.  Monitor the quality of your backup media and replace it as needed. 

Every hard drive made will eventually crash.   This is not a matter of if, but when.  While most hard drives will last about five years, some defective units have crashed in a matter of days or weeks.  Consider adding a mirror RAID to your computer;  this is essentually a second hard drive that mirrors all the data on your first hard drive at all times, so when a drive crashes, you still have your data and can keep working. 

Examples of great backup mediums are:

- External Hard Drive
- USB Flash Drives
- DVD or CD Burners
- Tape Drive
- RAID controller

Iomega REV drive:  Will hold up to 140 GB of data on removable hard disks

Iomega Zip drives, available in 100, 250, and 750 MB. 

You should be able to purchase these backup methods for less than $100 or less for the hardware, with the exception of the REV drive.  Making this small investment and taking a small amount of time out to back up your files will save you many frustrations in the long run.

Angela Z
Elemental Computer Works

Author: Angela Zamarripa
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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