Data is the lifeblood of modern businesses. Unfortunately, it can be easily corrupted or destroyed due to numerous reasons, such as accidental file deletion or overwriting, hardware failure, natural disasters, and cyberattacks. Data loss can disrupt business operations, negatively impact productivity, and even erode customer trust. This is why your business must have reliable data backups.
| Read also: 6 Business data loss stories |
What is a data backup?
A data backup is a copy of your data that is stored in a different location and/or on a different medium than your primary data. If your primary data is lost or corrupted, you can still access and use the backup to resume operations.
What are the common storage mediums used for data backup?
There are many storage mediums that you can use to back up data.
Magnetic tape
Despite being an old technology, magnetic tape is still a cost-effective option for storing large amounts of data. Its typical storage capacity can reach up to 16 TB of data, making it a good choice if you need significant storage space for backups. Magnetic tapes also have a relatively long life span, which is perfect for archival storage.
However, magnetic tape may not be ideal if you need to access individual files quickly. It stores data linearly, so you have to painstakingly read through the entire tape to find the file you are looking for. It’s better suited for backing up or restoring entire systems.
CD and DVD
CDs and DVDs are relatively inexpensive and easy to use, but there are some drawbacks to using CDs and DVDs for data backup.
First, optical discs have limited storage capacity. CDs have a capacity of 700 MB, while DVDs can store around 4.7–17 GB. They are also not very durable, as CDs and DVDs can be easily scratched or damaged, making the data on them unreadable. Finally, many new laptops and computers do not have optical drives, so you may not be able to use CDs and DVDs to load files on a new computer.
Hard disk drive (HDD)
HDDs use magnetic disks to store data and are available in capacities from 1 to 10 TB. They are a popular choice for data backup, as they can offer a good amount of storage space at a reasonable cost. HDDs can also last for many years, making them a good option for long-term data storage.
However, since HDDs are mechanical devices, they can fail over time. The moving parts in an HDD can wear out or become damaged, which can lead to data loss. HDDs can also be slow and noisy, especially when reading or writing large files, because the data has to be read from or written on the spinning disks.
Solid state drive (SSD)
SSDs use flash memory to store data. Since they are a newer technology than HDDs, SSDs have faster read and write speeds. They also do not have any moving parts, making them more durable and less likely to fail than HDDs. However, SSDs are more expensive than HDDs in terms of per gigabyte of storage.
Cloud storage
Cloud storage stores data on remote servers that are accessible over the internet. This means you can access your data from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. By using cloud storage, you do not need to worry about managing or maintaining any hardware. You can also easily add or remove storage space as needed.
However, using cloud storage requires a stable internet connection. If your internet connection is slow or unreliable, you may experience problems accessing your data or it may take longer to back up data.
Which data backup storage medium should your company choose?
The right data storage medium for your company depends on your specific data backup needs and budget. Answering these questions can help you identify your requirements:
- What type of data do you need to back up?
- How much data do you need to back up?
- How often do you need to back up your data?
- How much do you want to spend on data backup?
Once you have a good understanding of your needs, you can compare different storage mediums and find the one that’s right for you.
For reliable data backup services, you can rely on SpectrumWise. By partnering with us, you can ensure that your business won’t have to worry about data loss. Schedule a consultation with us today.
