What is Computer Backup?
Computer backup is; storing copies of your files on a medium other than your hard disk. The reason that we make computer backups is to protect against the event that something happens to damage our files so they are no longer usable. If we have backups of our files, then we can restore these files to our computer through our backups.

Backing up your company's computers is absolutely essential — if you lose computer data, you could also lose your business. The more you can do to protect against data backup nightmares, the more time and money you can reserve for moving your business forward. But there's more than one way to back up your data, depending on your company's budget, the number of computers that require backup, and whether or not you use a network.

The traditional method of backing up computer files was the floppy disk. However, floppy disks are becoming increasingly obsolete. Floppy disks can only hold 1.4 megabytes of data, and there are formats which can hold much more.

To find the solution that's best for you, compare the convenience, price, and ease of use offered by each approach. For example, a 100 MB Zip drive costs much less than a tape drive, but a single tape cartridge can hold as much as 300 Zip disks. And, a tape backup can take place automatically while you sleep. Other options are recordable CDs, DVDs, and upload your data to an Internet-based file storage service. We also have a backup program available threw our Mega-IT Backup and Disaster Recover Program.

Copying and Duplicating Files
The key to a successful backup is getting a copy of your data off your hard drive. Focus on protecting your personal files like letters, projects, sent e-mail messages, your e-mail address book, and any other information that is essential.

Don't try to copy programs like Microsoft Word or Outlook—they can be reinstalled from the original CDs you purchased. Likewise, the operating system software—Windows itself and any software provided by your computer maker—can usually be recovered from the installation or "System Restore" CDs that came with the computer.

You should avoid using standard floppy disks for long-term backups of important information. Floppies are less reliable than hard disks and are best for short-term storage of small files.

Schedule Regular Backups
How often should you back up your data? If you use your computer occasionally, a weekly backup might be enough. If you use your computer every day, a daily backup is a good idea. If all this seems to make your head spin, let us handle it for you threw our Mega-IT Backup and Disaster Recovery Program.

Finally, whatever backup option you choose, be sure to check that it works. Duplicate a single folder or group of files, and then try to recover those backup files to a different drive or folder. Don't wait until it's too late to find that the restore process doesn't work.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: If you are using tapes for backup you will need to label disks clearly, noting the date and time of the backup. Don't erase the previous backup until you have made a newer one. Rotate the tapes and retire tapes as needed. Old worn tapes will not give you a good backup resulting in lost data. Retirement of tapes is based on the tape's rated service life, but if your software tracks rewrite errors, any tape that shows a significant increase in errors may indicate that it should be retired and replaced. Remember, the cost of replacing a tape is minimal compared with the value of the data and the cost of losing it.