When it comes to the subject of backing up data, you’ll find a range of opinions, which can be confusing when choosing an approach to save your valuable data. The truth is there is no optimal method of saving data because all of them have their pros and cons. However, you will find the best option for backup depends on the type of data you need to store, its size, and what medium you’re comfortable with. With that said, here are some of the most popular methods that are frequently used to back up data.
External Drive
One of the most popular methods to backup your data is with an external hard drive. It is easy, convenient, and readily available for usage. External hard drives are useful because they’re portable, which means that you can carry them anywhere, connect them to your computer, and proceed with the backup process. Many drives now come with USB 3.0 capabilities, but in order to make use of this feature, your computer must have a USB 3.0 as well. An external hard drive is great for backups, especially if you use software to schedule your backups that will omit the need of having to manually do them on your own.
You should bear in mind that drives with large spaces can also be pretty expensive. Although you’ll have the advantage of portability, external drives must be stored somewhere that you’re sure is going to be 100% safe.
Clone Drive
A cloned drive works the same way an external drive will, but it’s different in the way that it copies data from your computer’s drive exactly as they are. Clones are usually used to get a full copy of your computer’s main hard drive, so in case something goes wrong with it, you can use the clone to restore your data and reboot your computer. If you get a clone for your hard drive, you’ll be able to copy all your files, your original drives’ partitions, and all of your settings and configuration changes. However, a clone drive won’t function as the original one. For example, your computer might run slower when booted from a clone drive. You might also have to update it frequently so as not to risk losing any data in the future.
Cloud Drive
A lot of people favor storing important data on a cloud space over a tangible or a portable drive to increase safety. Portable drives can be easily lost if you don’t secure them in a safe place, but the same cannot be said about cloud storage. In addition to the high degree of security and control you’ll have over your cloud drive; you’ll have a pretty vast space that you can increase whenever you need. Cloud drives can back up your data automatically, so you won’t have to worry about doing that on your own. However, it will require a stable internet connection to do so. In addition to that, companies that provide these spaces for their clients can take down their services any time, which doesn’t make this method score pretty well when it comes to longevity.
Thumb Sticks
Thumbsticks, or USB sticks, are pretty convenient as well. They are the best portable storage spaces you can use, as you can carry them on your person practically anywhere. They are also the best drives on this list that can be safely stored due to their small size. However, this advantage can also be problematic, because you can easily lose them if you’re not too careful. Thumb drives are portable, small, and cheap, so you might want to consider them for backup, especially if the data you want to store is not as important as work-related data, for instance.
DVD Drives
DVD drives are one of the long-standing backup methods there are. They aren’t prone to failure like other methods, which makes them highly reliable, and can also be easily stored in any place you deem safe. However, managing backups will soon turn out to be time-consuming if you opt to use them. They might also be a bit pricey, especially if you keep needing extra storage space to back up your data. In addition to this, some equipment, like gaming laptops, for example, don’t have CD-reading technology, which means you might not be able to access this data on other devices.
Now that you know some of the reliable methods for storing data, you can choose one that will suit you best. While choosing one method to backup your data is a wise choice, you must bear in mind that backing up your data on more than one device is the smarter option. Be sure to back up your data as soon as possible, especially if you have important files on your computers that are at risk of being lost.