It seems like backups have been recommended since the introduction of personal computers, but with ever-changing technology and so many devices, backing up seems like an unnecessary chore… until you need it.

Firstly, finding a backup method that is easy and effective doesn’t need to be complicated. If you need guidance or recommendations, we encourage you to stop in sometime or give us a call. We’d be happy to go through the options that best suit your data and devices.

So what types of backups are there?

Cloud Backups

For most users, cloud-based backups are becoming increasingly useful. Systems like the iCloud, One Drive, Google Drive and Dropbox allow users to automatically send their important files like documents and pictures to a remote server on the internet. Most even offer this for free under 5 GB. One of the most notable benefits to this method is that it is off-site, meaning your data is stored safely in another location that can be accessed from any device connected to the internet. In a case of hard drive failure, computer failure, disaster or unfortunate circumstance, your data will still be safe.

One other notable benefit, which is increasingly convenient, is the ability to sync multiple devices. Share your calendar, contacts, and messages with all of your devices. Syncing your phone’s pictures and accessing them from your computer, or scheduling an appointment through your computer, and receiving the reminder on your phone – this synchronization not only keeps your data safe with off-site backups, but it also makes it more accessible to the user, regardless of what they access it from.

External Backups

In some instances, users may have large quantities of data to backup, such as pictures, movies, databases, etc. A cloud-based backup may not be a practical or affordable method. External backups have long been a common method, and with the rise of solid state media, they are also becoming more reliable.

External hard drives can come in extremely large capacities. It’s not uncommon to see 2, 3 and 4 GB external hard drives that contain hundreds of thousands of files. We are in a bit of a transitional space right now between mechanical drives – a typical external hard drive is mechanical – and solid state storage, such as a flash drive or other circuit-based storage unit. The cost of large-capacity solid storage continues to come down in cost, but in comparison to external hard drives, there is still a gap. Which to choose may depend on how much data you’re saving.

Network Allocated Storage

A NAS is a method frequently used for storage without a network. Many choose this method if they work in an environment where data is shared between multiple users or devices. Although there are several ways to have a NAS, the concept is relatively similar. Many modern routers now have USB ports that a simple flash drive can be plugged into, and anyone with permissions on the network can access. Other units can be servers on the network sharing files, functions or programs. With this method, if any node (computer, tablet or other device) within the network is out of service, files that are stored within the NAS still remain accessible to anyone with permissions to it. Many NAS servers also contain multiple storage drives in an array, and in the event that a drive fails, the other drives maintain the data backups. It’s a backup for the backup, so to speak.