Data Backup Digest

Data backup might seem like an arduous task in prospect, but once you have a system in place you can then schedule an automated backup. This will mean that, at a time or interval you specify, the system will automatically backup your data through whatever method you provide. This article will explore the advantages and disadvantages that such an automated system provides.

Cost effective

Data backup can be an expensive process, whether it’s paying for the initial systems or the IT staff to carry out all the procedures. Manually backing up your data say, every day, is not a cost effective process. These hours could be much better invested elsewhere in the business. While you will still need someone on hand in case the system fails, automating it all is going to save you a lot more time, and thus money, in the long run.

Convenient

Have you ever forgotten to run your backup system? Or is it becoming too much of a hassle to keep doing it every day? With an automated system you can schedule the time you want it to run and how often. Unlike a human, it won’t forget to run and it doesn’t need to be told to begin – it’ll just do it. It’s convenient and means you will have one less thing to worry about.

Maintains security

It could be argued that an automated backup is more secure than a manual one because there’s no human to peek at the data. Either way, with an automated backup you can still keep your files secure through various methods, like encryption – all of this can be done on the fly as well, during the backup process.

Provides reports

A good automated backup system will be set up to provide you with reports on the system to make it easier to maintain. For example, you could get a daily email to let you know that the backup was successful, what data has been altered since the last backup and how much space is left on the storage drive. That way you can keep your eye on the process, even though you’re not carrying it out manually.

Needs maintaining

Although the actual process may be automatic, this does not mean you can forget about your backups forever. Importantly, you still need to perform regular checks on the backup data to make sure that it is functional and hasn’t been corrupted in the process. Additionally, you need to monitor your storage to ensure that you aren’t going to run out of drive space. There’s no point having an automated system in place if there’s nowhere to store the data!

Setup cost

Setting up an automated backup system can be simple if you know how. But if you’re not technologically proficient, you might find it a bit tricky. If that’s the case and you don’t have a dedicated IT department, then you’ll need to lay out an initial cost to get the system set up in the first place. However, as discussed above, the costs do pay off in the long run.