Making backup copies of your documents and files has been a best practice in computing for decades. Modern computer owners can now choose to use backup software that stores their files locally (to devices/media) or to online services. This article looks at the positives and negatives of each of these options.

Online Computer Backup

Storing copies of your data online has only recently become popular as faster internet connectivity facilitated the upload speeds necessary to make this a viable option (uploading over dialup was very slow). There are many free online locations to store your files, though you usually have to pay for storing any larger volumes of data.

Positives

• You can view your data from any computer or web device from anywhere in the world.
• The online services normally provide client backup software that can automatically upload data to their backup server in a continuous or scheduled manner.

Negatives

• Without a fast web connection, this process can be slow and unsuited to storing large amounts of data.
• There is an ongoing cost for using services when storing large volumes of data.

Local Computer Backup

Storing copies of your data on CDs, tape storage or devices (including external hard drives) is an approach that has been popular for decades. No specialized backup software is generally required other than CD/DVD burning software. That said, file synchronization software is a popular way of copying data between several computers/drives/devices in an efficient manner (by only copying new/changed files).

Positives

• Cheap to initialize and implement. Media costs have plummeted in recent years (CDs, tapes, etc.)
• Super fast way of making a data backup. Easily incorporated into regular computer repair and maintenance activities.

Negatives

• Backup data and originals have to be physically stored separately.
• No automation of backups so prone to data loss if you forget to run a backup.

Related posts:

1. Flexible Options for Online IT Training
2. An Introduction To Zip Disk Data Recovery
3. Repairing A Slow Computer – Reimage Review
4. Fixed Asset Inventory Software
5. Microsoft Antivirus Software