Selecting Proper Backup Devices

Just as selecting the proper backup software is important, selecting the proper device is extremely important. When selecting the storage device, important features are the size of the media, the portability of the media, and the durability of the media.

When selecting the proper backup devices, care should be taken to select a device which will exceed your current average backup file size. The reason that this is important is because backup files which are only 100 MB today will easily become double that size within a year. As hard drives become larger, and faster, more computer users are storing more data on these devices. This data will only grow larger and larger as time progresses. Often, selecting backup devices which are at least double the current backup file size will allow future expandability.

Another important feature of selecting a proper backup media is the portability of the backup device, or the backup media. Storage devices and media are often available in many different sizes an shapes, ranging from flash drives which measure three square inches, removable zip drives and to removable hard drives which weigh up to five pounds. If the backup media is often carried off-site (if a data backup is left off-site, this allows rapid recovery in the event of a fire or natural disaster), the size of the device or media should be considered.

Removable hard drives, for instance, offer a great bargain in upfront cost compared to traditional backup tapes. However, these drives are rather bulky and heavy compared to the traditional backup tapes. Besides the ease of transportation off-site, some remote data backup storage facilities charge their rates by the square inch or foot. If a backup is larger than another type of backup device, the money saved at the initial purchase may be lost in monthly charges to one of these services.

Perhaps the second most important feature of external backup gears are their durability. What good is a data backup, if the device fails before the data is restored? By selecting quality backup media, the chances of a device failing during a restore are lower. For instance, solid-state devices (devices that have no moving parts) such as flash drives are by design more durable than traditional devices with regard to shock. In contrast, removable hard drives are perhaps the most fragile type of storage device, with regard to excess shock. When selecting the proper backup device, always make sure to compare the durability of available devices.

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