Backing Up - The Most Important Part Of The Day April 6, 2009
The Criticality of Backing Up
This article is so incredibly timely for me it isn’t even funny. I work as an independent IT/Project Management Consultant and therefore my laptop and associated files are the lifeblood of my work. One would think that I would be among the top ‘x%’ of individuals religiously backing up all of my data files. Well….I’m not.
My Problem and My Solution
My ‘Doorway’ brand laptop computer as I’ll call it for the purpose of this article (you get the hint), let me down three times in the past 1 ½ years and I still didn’t learn about proper backup techniques. Now, a lifelong Windows user has become a Macbook fan after a third harddrive failure and I’m happily using the Leopard OS’ Time Machine backup feature. It’s a no-brainer for me. As for the data on my Windows laptop…I’m trying to find a good file recovery program to extract what I can of my consulting files and kid pictures and videos so that my clients and my wife won’t kill me.
Options
What can the small business owner do? Exactly the same, but probably on a larger scale. I purchased an Apple Time Capsule, which combines an N-router with a wireless 500gb or 1Tb external drive. For Macs on the network (at home we have two Macbooks), they can use the drive through Time Machine. The Windows machines on my home network - that would be 5 - can use the same drive but obviously can’t utilize Time Machine. Other backup software - even Windows Vista backup software will do - can be utilized and ensure that at least weekly backups exist…more if the data is critical. Time Capsule is a $300-$500 investment per unit.
A small business could do the same - utilizing one or more of the Time Capsules - to ensure every machine on their network is backed up regularly. There are many more options available to the small business owner including online backup services, outside backup service businesses, and purchasing small backup drives for each machine. A 500gb USB 2.0 MyPassport drive from Western Digital will only run about $130 from your local Costco.
In Conclusion
Whatever you choose, use it..that’s all I can say. Do the research, pick the best solution based on the budget you have available and use it. I didn’t, and I’m sorry for it and I may have lost some very valuable files. I will not make that same mistake again.
