The Cost of Making a Backup

A Backup Article Contributed by Ashley Lister

The Cost of Making a Backup

Although the cost of making a backup is expensive, it far outweighs the cost of NOT making a backup.

Backup Consumables are Not Overpriced Commodities in Themselves but When Several of These Units are Required the Cost Element Does Become a Consideration. to Make Backup Procedures Cost-Efficient and Workable It is Wise to Examine the Backup Media Available and Consider the Possibilities Each Offers for Reuse and Reliability.

The Most Convenient Method is to Simply Backup to an Existing Hard Drive. Unfortunately This Can Be of Very Little Use If the Hard Drive is Lost, Damaged or Stolen but It Can Be an Effective Way of Safely Storing Data Until Another Method is Selected. a Network Backup - Backing up to Another Machine on a Local Area Network (Lan) - is Similar to This Style of Backup but Offers a Little More Security.

Backup Tapes are One of the Most Popular Media and Can Be Used and Reused Again and Again. These Can Be Expensive Initially but, Because They are Designed for Almost Limitless Reuse, over Time the Investment Can Be Seen As Negligible. Again, the Cost Implications Rise When You Consider the Investment of a Quality Tape Drive but There is Little Point in Cutting Corners in Such a Valuable Piece of Equipment.

Although It Might Be Tempting to Save a Few Pounds on the Initial Outlay, That Decision is Certain to Come Back and Haunt You If the Backup Should Ever Fail Because of a Faulty Tape Drive.

Backup discs, zip drives, jazz drives etc, are specifically designed to cope with the rigors of a regularly backup routine. The consumables are not usually as expensive as tapes but the user is limited to media they are able to use. When considering zip drives, jazz drives or any other variation, a user needs to understand the limitations of the machine they are currently using and discuss any queries or reservations with the sales staff.

CD and DVD backups are becoming more widely available and, as with the other two options from above, they offer comparatively cheap consumable costs and the ability to store backups off site.

Remote backup can seem like a more expensive option but offers many advantages that none of the above can provide. As well as providing secure storage of information, at a location that is safe from the PC itself, a remote backup does not include the cost of consumables. Usually these backups are automated, so that there is little need for user intervention. And, because remote backup facilities are usually operated by experienced professionals, this method comes with the distinct advantage of a support team to assist in your hour of need.

Each of the above needs to be considered in terms of its practicality and suitability to the individual user. Some of the above work better with certain operating systems, others offer a freedom of choice that users might find appealing. Others are less financially demanding. Whichever choice you make, make sure you do pick one and that you backup regularly.