Various data storage solutions include tape backup, flash drives, CD-R/CD-RW, DVD technology, hard drives, and FTP. The best choice depends on the amount and importance of data, and budget. FTP is recommended for small, critical data, DVD for limited lifespan, and tape for long-term archiving.
There are a variety of methods that can be used to back up your data. The best choice depends on how much data you want to back up, how important that data is, and how much funds you have. Some of the more common data storage solutions include the following:
Tape Backup: At one point the data solution of choice, with cost reductions and the availability of other media solutions (such as DVD-R), tape backup became less popular. This method comes in several varieties: 8mm helical scan technology for mid-range systems, 4mm helical for low-end systems, and technologies like AIT for high-end systems. The writing speed for magnetic tape is relatively slow compared to other solutions, but the duration is very high. With costs decreasing for other methods, tape is unlikely to remain a reasonable option in the future.
Flash Drives: For small amounts of data, flash drives (also known as thumb drives or memory sticks) are a great solution. They’re small enough to fit in a pocket, offer virtually unlimited rewriting capabilities, and are easy to plug into any computer with a USB port. Capacity varies from 64MB to over 1GB. Data life is estimated to be around ten years, and unlike hard drive backups, they are not subject to damage from magnets.
CD-R/CD-RW: CD-R and CD-RW technology offer many benefits as a backup solution. Both types of media are incredibly cheap (especially when bought in bulk), write times are fast, and the data is easily accessible from virtually any computer. Their capacity is 650-700 MB. However, recent studies have indicated that their duration is shorter than initially assumed, with retention declining after five years.
DVD Technology: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, and dual layer DVD technologies are essentially the replacement for CD backup for most people. A DVD can hold 4.7 GB or, in the case of dual-layer DVDs, 8.5 GB. This media is currently comparable in price with CDs, with discs available relatively cheaply in bulk. DVDs have a lifespan similar to CD technologies.
Hard Drives: As hard drive prices continue to drop, many businesses and individuals are turning to external drives as a backup solution. The cost per gigabyte can be very cheap and copying data is incredibly easy. Hard drives are subject to physical malfunction and corruption by a number of forces, however, making their lifespan questionable.
FTP: There are online solutions that allow computer users to upload their data to a secure server located in a secure environment. This is often a good option for important data that isn’t particularly large. Security is a concern for some, but most FTP solutions offer extensive security features to better protect your data. These data farms in turn back up the data, usually using tape or DVD technology (or a hybrid of the two), further ensuring data durability.
As technologies continue to develop and prices continue to drop, more solutions appear every day. Right now, a good recommendation for small amounts of highly critical data would be FTP. For anything else with a limited lifespan, DVD media might be best, and for long-term data archiving, tape remains a strong option.
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