Backing Up Data...

Hi there

I know this site is very new so not sure if many people are here yet, BUT... can anyone recommend a simple method of backing up my data? I'm worried that the files I create might be destroyed at any time - had a few computer disasters in the past! What is the simplest (and cost effective!) way of backing up my files?

Thanks for your help,

Janine

Re : Backing Up Data

I find the easiest is to copy everything across onto a CD Rom or two; doesn't take too long and you can just leave it writing the CD whilst you do some paperwork or over lunch!

Dan
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Re : Backing Up Data

Yep I do the same as Dan.

There are other options if you need something more robust, even tape drives. There are also pieces of software you can use where you set a certain set of folders and then it can run automatically e.g. daily or weekly to back up.

Hope that's useful?

Tim

Re : Backing Up Data

Also worth backing up your backups, and keeping them in a separate location, particularly for really valuable data such as customer and transaction records.

Tim

Re : Backing Up Data

It is exceptionally important to keep your data offsite from your computer system to protect against disasters (or even burglary, etc). We provide a remote offsite backup system. If you go to http://www.backupsanywhere.com/index.php?opt=freetrial you can download a free trial for 30 days to see how it works. This gives you 2GB of backup space (all files are compressed and encrypted for safety).

Lee.
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Re : Backing Up Data

Janine

I know this question is a few months old, but for what it's worth I have always believed in the father, grandfather method of backing up:

In other words you have a backup and then a backup of the backup in a different location, and you displace them one by one as a new backup is made.

Carl

Re : Backing Up Data

In terms of security of your backups the method used by many large corporates is the GFS method (Grandfather, father, son). In this scenario you would do the following:

Monthly full backups - retained for 12 months each
Weekly incrementals since the last monthy - retained for 5 weeks
Daily incrementals since last weekly - retained for 7 days

These are also cycled offsite on a daily basis with backup media delivered back to site in time for recycling in the next backup cycle.

Thankfully our software can do this for you without too much effort and you don't need to be a large corporate to take advantage of this sort of GFS cycle of backups and offsiting of backups. In fact our system replicates all backups to another separate location for additional security.
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Re : Backing Up Data

I agree with Leemason, offsite backup is the best backup solution I have used, the reason being it is automatic, secure and my data is moved away from my office. The reason for me using this type of backup solution is because my computers and local usb drive (used for backup) were stolen which left me with no data. Now if my computer blows up or is stolen I know my data is safe. I use a company called perfectbackup http://www.perfectbackup.co.uk because they offer UK based 24x7 support and they also offer a £1,000,000 data restore guarantee. Check out an offsite backup solution as it will save you alot of time, money and hassle.

Re : Backing Up Data

The most reliable backup strategy has already been mentioned by people on this thread. Most businesses uses this method of backups. Home users are best served by copying their important files to CD/DVD, Microsoft Windows has a built in tool for creating backups that is easy to use called 'Windows Backup'.
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Re : Backing Up Data

I upload mine to Microsoft Skydrive, also I have and extra Hard disk in the computer wich i would recomend over anything, just dump files on there that you think are important and dont use it for anything else. Its the same as using CD roms except that you know where you have everything (unless the PC gets stolen)
http://skydrive.live.com/

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Re : Backing Up Data

PBScott, like yourself I also have a secondary hard drive to save my backups to. I haven't heard of Microsoft Skydrive so I might check that out later.
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Re : Backing Up Data

There are loads of software tools free or otherwise that will auto back-up data for you now, seems to be a boom area!

Re : Backing Up Data

Actualy after reading this I decided to do another backup so I also threw my 2gb Thumb drive in there and dumped it all on there, and hung it up on the wall as an extra precaution, thumbdrives have a battery in them so there not exactly permanant, but as just another backup they are sure fast, and easy to use.

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