Still Using Them Old Backup Tapes To Backup Your Data?

Submitted by Gary

Amazingly many big company's still use tape drives, I have many clients myself that feel that using the old tape method is the best way to go when backing up their data... But for me, I simply feel that tape drives have had their day and it's now time to make room for Flash Drives and external HDDs. Now if you work in a massive company with a massive funding pot then your probably have a more advanced backup procedure with high end backup storage servers, but even then you will need some kind of media device where you can store your files off site. This is what was great about tape drives, you could easily store data on them and also erase then for another use without endless formating. Compact Disks (CD) are a great way to backup but have limited space, the same with DVDs you can only store so much on them. But the same goes for tapes, they can reach around 20GB but the larger they are the longer it takes to erase and rewind... Tapes also decay, if you wanted to use tape drives to keep a history of data over a long period of time then think again, you may get many years but in the end they will decay and will be useless. It's time to move on and use the next generation technology... Flash drives are becoming more and more popular and also external HDD drives are becoming more advanced, bigger and cheaper! Though let's talk more about flash drives, what advantage do they have over your standard tape drive. Firstly, they are way faster, so quick that they put your top of the range HDD drive to shame. Flash drives work like your average USB memory stick, they can now come in many sizes roughly around 32gb being the largest size. Though there is two different versions, once works like RAM in your PC, this version is the fastest and works well but has a downfall of when power is cut off from the device (Like DDR RAM) it loses its memory. But one version which many are using is the one that works like your average USB memory stick, its fast, it saves the data after being detached and is also very portable and hard to destroy! Next backup media is the external HDD drives, they are much bigger then a small USB flash drive but can store way much more data and are more suited towards backing up file servers which store thousands of gigs worth of data. Not only that but external hard disks are becoming cheaper every single day. It's possible to get hold of a 350GB drive for 50GBP (Great British Pound) which is dirt cheap considering how much your data is worth. The only problem with external drives is that its still a hard disk which can be corrupted if handle incorrectly, you still have to take care and buy the right drive as some get hotter then others. Other then that its probably the best and cheapest way of backing up your important data. Tape drives for me are out, they are old and easy to break and if left in the wrong place can cause your data to be corrupted. Hope this article helps you better understand which are the latest and best backup medias in the market.

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Still Using Them Old Backup Tapes To Backup Your Data?

Offsite Backup Advantages

Creating backups of your data and files is a very important way of staying on top of disaster and missing data.  Both small and large businesses, including individuals, always look towards a backup of information to keep them going in the face of disaster.  Even though backups are a great way to keep your data safe and protected, there are some flaws with the traditional methods.


When you create backups of your data, you must store them somewhere where they can’t be damaged or someone else can access them.  For businesses, offsite backup is a well known and popular way to backup files.  It offers you several different advantages when compared to other ways, such as CD, DVD, external hard drives, and even servers.  One of the biggest advantages to offsite backup is the fact that the backups aren’t stored in your office or business.

Offsite backup companies store your data in state of the art safes, to protect them against fire, flood, and even prying eyes.  This can be extremely beneficial if unexpected things have a habit of occurring around your office.

Another great thing about offsite backups are the fact that they can be used as stores for your data.  You won’t need to rely on online space, as you can easily go to the company who is storing your data and go through it anytime you wish.  You can also use online space with most companies as well.  You simply upload your data to their online storage area, then go back anytime you wish and view it.  This is a very handy feature, similar to a hosting company.

Another benefit of offsite backup is the fact that your data will always be protected, and you won’t have to use CD or DVDs to do it.  CD and DVD storage is great for individuals, although there will be quite a bit of them for most businesses.  This can get somewhat costly, but more importantly, it will use a lot of space to store the backup files.  They can also become damaged or lost, unlike offsite backup storage.

Offsite storage is also great if your business is in a bad area.  If Mother Nature has a habit of bashing your area with floods, fires, or hurricanes, you should look into offsite backup storage immediately.  They have ways to protect your information from harm, including anything Mother Nature can dish out.  There is no need to worry about natural disasters, system failures, hard drive crashes, or data failure with offsite backup storage.

Even though you may not realize it, the data will be available anytime you need it.  Online backup services are available anytime, day or night, and can be accessed anywhere you are.  Most are easy to set up, and offers you very impressive security measures.  They are also fast and very efficient, which is great for those who need to access their files immediately.

When it comes to offsite backup, you can store virtually any file you need to, such as text files, e-books, contact record, pictures, music, and anything else you can think of.  The storage for online backups are virtually endless, capable of storing everything you need.

All in all, offsite backup storage is ideal for any business or corporation.  You can store your data with an online offsite backup, or choose to do it physically in an offsite safe.  The choice is entirely up to you.  No matter which method of offsite backup you choose - your data will always be protected, and best of all - it will always be there anytime you need it.

Offsite Backup Advantages