The Need for Backup Mass Data Storage
Large amounts of data frequently need to be stored (termed mass data storage) for both home and business users. If this data is not properly backed up then in the event of a computer or server failure, you or your business may lose a great deal of expensive or personal information. Backup mass data storage is a way of making a safe backup of a large amount of data, often on a device that can be removed from the computer.
Home users may have irreplaceable home video and photographs of the family as well as digital movies and music that may have been purchased and downloaded online. These can represent a large investment for the people concerned, which if lost may be difficult or too costly to replace. The distress of losing all of your photos of your children growing up can be very painful.
For a business the loss of data may be even more intolerable. If you were to lose the information that your clients have entrusted you with then this may dent their confidence, and ultimately not only lose those clients for your business but potentially future clients too when your reputation sours. Safe back ups can reduce this risk.
There are many ways of handling your backup mass data storage but given the large amount of data that both business and home users generally now have, previous methods such as the use of floppy discs, have become obsolete. Larger volumes are needed.
How Backup Mass Data Storage Works
Backup mass data storage may be handled automatically via a piece of software that is installed on your machine, or may be handled manually at times that are convenient. A storage device is attached to the computer, and the data that is needing to be backed up is copied and then transferred to the device.
These devices vary in their storage capacity. Older storage methods include writeable CDs, and DVDs too. However this method of taking backups can be a little cumbersome and time consuming because of the number of CDs that would need to be used. These then face storage problems, as CDs may be scratched or smashed or otherwise damaged.
Solid state storage devices will hold more than a CD or DVD, but are still limited. These are far easier to store and because of their small size, they are easy to transport, so making them a good way of moving files between locations. Tape back up drives are still available but are slow to use and have been superseded by DVD writers. If you need larger amounts of storage you may consider an external hard drive.
What Features are Available?
DVD and CD back up is limited in what it can offer you. External drives though have various features that can help you maintain good back ups, and these will vary by model. Fire and water proofing is a useful feature offered by a few drives, that will offer some disaster proofing for your data. Single button back ups can be found on some drives-simply plug in the drive, wait for it to power up and press to synchronise the information on your computer with the information on your drive.
What Does Backup Mass Data Storage Cost?
The two major factors that will determine the cost of your drives is the amount of data that they will hold for you and the speed that they will operate at. Flash drives are cheap and fast, limited by only the speed of your USB port, however they do not hold a huge amount of data-16GB commonly being the upper limit. Flash drives may cost upwards of a few dollars, up to forty or fifty for larger drives.
External hard drives however have a moving plate, and the speed at which it rotates will affect how quickly you can write information to it, and also take it off it. USB speeds will also limit their speed. Faster, larger drives will be the most expensive. A terabyte drive may cost as little as a hundred dollars.