Data Backup Media

A Backup Article Contributed by Melissa Larose

Data Backup Media

Data backup requires a media to save to. The choice of media is often dependent on price, storage capacity, and speed. But just how long will that media stay in tact? As an example, a government laboratory had an occasion to restore files from tape that had been in storage for over ten years. Guess what they found when they checked the tape? Absolutely nothing was found. The tape had aged to the point of uselessness.

Some Data Backup Requires a long Lasting Media

Obviously the laboratory was dismayed upon their discovery. But what could they expect? The life expectancy of magnetic tape has been stated anywhere form one to twenty years. And tape is subject to humidity, temperature, exposure to dust and dirt.

All media is only as good as the place from which it sprang, that is, its state when it arrives from the manufacturer or retailer. Its treatment and storage during any time it is moved around can affect its performance. If it is moved from hot to cold to hot and humid and then back to cold data backup integrity is in question.

The way a media is treated by personnel can affect it as well. Throwing and slamming tapes and disks into drives, and dropping them continually either all together or any one on its own can damaged the life of the media. Reuse of a media can also breakdown the media to the point of uselessness for data backup purposes.

Name the Data Backup Media Available

Data backup media come in several varieties. Diskettes can come in 3.5 inches, in CD-R/W format, DVD-R/W, a removable hard drive (in addition to the primary hard drive in your computer), a zip drive, and finally a tape drive. If you are doing Internet data backup then whom ever is receiving it either has storage as hard drives or tape on the other end of the line.

Reliability of each of these methods is dependent on the length of time you are intending to store your data backup. Many companies need to store for many years. Others need to store data backup for a month at a time.

How to Make the Most out of Your Data Backup Media

If you will follow a few steps your data backup media will last longer than most. Make sure the cases and room the media is stored in is cool, dry, and clean. Dust and dirt can damage data so keep some canned air around to clean work surfaces, shelving, and equipment routinely.

Do not leave any media sitting around out in the open. Do not bend or flex the disks (hopefully no one would think to bend a tape! ) or rap the disks against desk tops, knees or anything else one might want to play the drums on.

Always avoid touching uncased media directly with your hands. If the media doesn't have data on it or if it does have data on it touching it with your fingers can damage it. Oil and dirt on the fingers can affect the media and actually erase any data backup it contains..

Do not expose storage media to magnetic field as this de-magnetizes the media and erases all traces of data backup. Remember the laboratory!

And finally, don't reuse media over and over. Use fresh media at every turn.