How to BackUp Hard Drive Data

Your computer stores data on its hard drive. Backing up the hard drive is a precaution users may take in order to minimize data loss in the event that the hard drive becomes compromised, damaged or unusable. These days, hard drives are capable of storing vast quantities of data, exceeding the size of rewritable CDs and flash drives. That is why an external hard drive is the most thorough method to use to back up your computer's hard drive. Both PCs and Macs have pre-loaded software that will help you back your data up to an external hard drive.

Instructions

Back Up For PCs


Plug your external hard drive into a power source. Insert the external hard drive's USB or Firewire cable, depending on the model of external hard drive, into the respective port on your computer.


Click "Start." Point to "Accessories," then "System Tools" and then click "Backup."


Click "Next" on the "Backup or Restore Wizard" screen that appears.


Make sure that the "Back up files and settings" option is selected. Click "Next."

Select the "All information on this computer" option from the "What to Back Up" box. Click "Next."


Select your external hard drive on the menu asking to "Choose a place to save your back up." Provide a name for your back up in the field provided. Click "Next."


Click "Finish" on the "Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard" page. Click "Close" once the back up is complete.


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Advantages of Windows Remote Data Backup Recovery

A business that owns a server or a network needs to have a way to backup and restore their data in case of an emergency. Emergencies such as fire, flood, natural disaster, user error or hardware failure can all be a potential hazard to digital data on a computer or server. Remote data backup sends this data to a storage server owned by another company, usually by means of a secure high-speed Internet connection. This server is located remote from the business' server and network to provide extra security for the stored data.

Off-Site Storage

One major advantage of remote data backups is that the storage server is located off-site from the business' server or network. If there is a fire, flood or natural disaster on the site of the business office, it may destroy the business server or computers. If the business also kept the data backup on-site, this backup may have also been destroyed in the disaster. Because the data is stored on a remote and protected server, it will remain safe even in the event of a disaster on-site.

Access to Data

Because the data is backed up and stored on an online server, users will be able to access the data globally, from any computer that has an Internet connection. This is helpful for users who travel and need access to the server data. It is also useful in case the business decides to re-locate their server or purchase a new server for their company. All a server needs is an Internet connection and backup software to have access to the recovery data.

No Media Management

Since all data is stored remotely on another server and is transferred through the Internet, the business does not need to manage media and backup hardware along with the server or network. This also frees up employee time for other tasks since the IT department does not need to worry about checking backups and managing the integrity of backup media. If the business decides to purchase a new server, purchasing and installing backup media will not be a concern as remote data backup is usually compatible with all servers.

Backup Software and Support

Most remote data backup service providers will offer their customers free backup software for the server or network. Technical support should be available to help install this software and troubleshoot any data transfer problems that the business might have. If the business' data recovery needs change over time, the service providers should be able to respond to these needs and offer options to support future expansion and changes in technology.


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The Importance of Data Backup For Businesses

A data loss can be caused by a number of issues. Everything from hardware malfunction to malicious behavior can be the culprit. It can come in the form of a few deleted or corrupted files. Or in the worst-case scenario, a complete loss is possible. Whatever the reason or scale, a backup will permit you to replace the lost data, allowing your organization to continue normal operation. So the question is, not if data backup is important for a business, but how best to get it done. In making this decision, there are many factors to consider. Some of these factors include the amount of critical data, the security requirements and how quickly that data needs to be restored after a disaster.

First, consider the amount of data that needs to be backed up. Having a backup will at least double the size of your data. Depending on the frequency, updates and other backup requirements, the size of your data could be well more than doubled. For many businesses, this means in-house data backup will be difficult. Many colocation or data centers offer a good backup solution. For capacity, they tend to be one of the most efficient options. These data centers are constantly monitored and can ensure that you only pay for the space you need, without having to worry about running over capacity. This is a good option for organizations with large amounts of data or with variable space requirements.

The next item to consider is the security requirements for your data. If your data contains sensitive customer or employee information, you may be restricted to very specific security laws. Even information such as phone numbers can be considered sensitive and special precaution should be taken when deciding where to back it up. If selecting an offsite option like colocation, be sure to ask the provider for specific security information. Also, a data center with SAS 70 Type II compliance is highly recommended. This means the data center's operations have been audited and verified by a 3rd party.

Finally, you must consider how quickly the data needs to be restored after a loss. For some organizations, a data loss may not cause immediate panic. For other companies, business operations may be on hold until data is restored. If immediate restoration is a requirement for your business, take that into account when researching backup options.

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