May 05, 2008

Backups

I recently talked to a couple of people who lost data because -- wait for it -- they didn't have a backup strategy in place.

While I'm running the risk of being one of those smug techies who prattles on about the need for backups, I do fell compelled to say back your stuff up!.

The key to backups is that anything that requires either thought or action is doomed to fail. It needs to be automatic and foolproof.

You have two main options: local or off-site. At the simplest level, a local backup could mean just buying an extra (usually external) hard drive and using some simple software to back up your data. But, this doesn't meet the "automatic" test. And, if you're extra paranoid, you'll note that your data isn't safe in case of a fire, theft, or natural disaster. So, while this is the cheapest option, it isn't the best.

Another local option is Apple's Time Machine and Time Capsule. These are basically automatic, set-it-and-forget-it solutions (albeit, just for those with a Mac).

The other way to go with an off-site, internet based backup system. These programs back your data up to file servers in the "cloud." You don't need to buy an extra hard drive, or worry about the physical security of your backup disk. But, you will pay for it in either monthly or yearly fees. The programs run in the background, and (depending on settings) constantly upload your data to the service in question. The big downside (outside of the monthly costs) is a long initial backup run, as all of your data gets transfered up (subsequent backups will cover just the stuff that changed). But, there are two types of users who won't have a good experience: anyone still on dial up (yes, I know some), and anyone collecting a ton of data (think: professional photographer or videographer). For everyone else, this seems to be the way to go.

I'm currently using Jungle Disk -- a backup program that uses Amazon's S3 for storage. You pay only based on what you transfer and store, so if you don't have a ton of data, it might be a pretty good deal. (I'm getting to the point where I'm wondering if I'd get a better deal elsewhere.) I've also set people up with Mozy, a nice little service that charges $5 a month for unlimited space.

Of course, if you really want to make sure your data is safe, try a combination of local and off-site. I bet Time Machine + Mozy would put you in a pretty good spot.

Oh, and check out a recent post from Dan Benjamin on the topic. His take is a bit more technical than mine, but driven by the same desire to keep the baby photos safe!