Backing up your data is an absolute necessity. Lost data can cause ridiculous amounts of downtime, and some things may be irreplacable. There are many ways to back up your data, here are the pros and cons of some of the most common ones:
External Hard Drive
Pros:
- Fast
- Can have lots of space depending on drive
- Often come with software to make backing up easier
- Free once you have the equiptment
Cons:
- Damage to your computer (viruses, etc.) can result in damage to the drive if left plugged in
- If the building is destroyed, the computer and the backup will both be destroyed
Online backup, such as Carbonite
Pros
- Usually provide software for seamless backup
- Off site, so data is secure
Cons
- Expensive.
- Recovery can take a long time depending on your internet connection speed
Backup with South City Computers
Pros
- Uses BitTorrent Sync to back up in real time
- Off site, so data is secure
- Reasonably priced
- Recovery can be done either by downloading, or picking up media in store
- Local business means you can speak directly to a technician
Cons:
- Can’t think of any