Keeping the data on your computer safe from software and hardware malfunctions is getting higher on the priority list every year, mainly due to most of the information we need being stored in digital format, as opposed to paper just a few years ago.
With our hard drives getting bigger in storage volume, the possibility of losing all the data on them is also increasing, because we tend to store all our files on as few devices as possible. While that is convenient, it’s not very safe.
It’s very easy to reduce or completely remove the possibility of lost files and information by simply buying an external storage device that would be used only for backups. This way, the probability of losing data is almost nullified, because it is extremely unlikely to lose 2 hard drives at once, especially when the second one is in top condition because it hasn’t been extensively used in day to day work.
But no one likes to do the backups manually, especially when you need to perform them every day, so developers created automated backup software that will transfer all your important files to the eternal storage device at any time of the day and keep it updated if you make any changes to the original.
Below is a collection of some of the best data backup software. You can’t go wrong by choosing any one of them.
Acronis Backup and Recovery. This software is the successor to Acronis True Image, a very popular backup solution. It has all of its features plus more. It has the options to backup your data to any external storage, a special partition on any hard drive (the Acronis Secure Zone), backup the entire operating system and all programs and restore them within minutes or move them to other, completely new hardware and they’ll work just as great as on your old system. It is a great tool to have for anyone, but the developers aim it at businesses, professionals and enterprises that need security, reliability and great support.
Dropbox. This is something different from your usual backup and recovery programs. Dropbox is an online backup and storage service where you can save anything you want, whether it’s the movies and music that don’t fit on your hard drive or important work files and information. The software is very simple: you install it and it creates a folder on your computer, which is constantly synchronized with the remote storage over the Internet. You can also back up any other folders by defining them in the program. For Dropbox to work well, you’ll need a speedy Internet connection, something like 5Mbit/s or more.
TurboBackup. Another great backup solution with a long history of use. Turbobackup is a stand-alone application that can be used to backup and restore any files you want to external devices or remote FTP servers and synchronize your files between your laptop, desktop, work, home and any other computers. It is very simple to use and costs less than Acronis, so it’s perfect for individuals that want their data to be safe but don’t have the need for overly advanced solutions.
Carbon Copy Cloner. A Mac-only application, Carbon Copy Cloner (or CCC, as it’s often abbreviated) allows you to backup all of your files or even the entire operating system and to easily restore them to any hard drive within minutes. But that’s not all it can do. You can also use CCC to migrate your Mac OS to a new hard drive, create full clones of it, maintain archival backups (backups of files that have been deleted from the source, just in case you need them), backup to another computer or FTP server, schedule backups by time or event (for example, start backup when your external drive has been attached) and much more. This tool is the most popular backup solution among Mac users, and thousands of them can’t be wrong.
Time Machine. This is Apple’s own backup solution that comes with Mac OS X. It is very useful, and Mac users don’t have to spend additional money and time getting a third party utility, although a lot of people are using Time Machine in conjunction with Carbon Copy Cloner to get the most functionality possible. Time Machine makes regular copies of all the files on your computer, and if you accidentally delete something or just need it again, you can remember the time and date when you had it and get it back with this program. As Apple says on their site, “Go back in time”.
If keeping you information safe is important to you, you should definitely get an external storage device (either in your house or on a remote server) and a program that will automatically do periodic backups of all you data. Hardware and software malfunctions do happen, and this way, you can be sure you’ll be safe.
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