Finding the Right Data Storage Devices

August 22, 2009 · Filed Under Hard Drive · Comment 
by Mark Perez

Whether in a personal or business setting, a person will come in contact with large amounts of digital data that needs to be stored in a secure place. With increasing amounts of emails, documents, presentations, graphics, etc, the likelihood of losing important information is increased if the data is not stored properly. Safe data storage is a must and is crucial in any setting.

A user should take the time to analyze the many options available for data storage and choose the solution that works best for them. Decide what is important and base your decision on what works best for your situation. Things to consider include; how quickly does the information need to be accessed? How often will the data be used? Will the data need to be stored on site or at a more secure remote location?

When you can answer these questions to your satisfaction, you will be in a better position to choose the best data storage option for your individual needs. Sometimes the choice is obvious, but a mistaken choice can lead to trouble in the future. The types of data storage available can include flash memory, external hard drives, online storage, and network attached storage devices.

Flash memory thumb drives are small and portable devices that allow a user to store and access files and programs quickly and easily. Most are set up with programs that can emulate a hard drive so a user can work with the programs and bookmarks they need without packing an entire computer around. The downside is the limited amount of memory the offer.

An external hard drive will increase the storage capacity and still offer convenience and portability to the user. With an external hard drive the user can transport large files or connect it to a computer to back up an entire hard drive. Most users prefer using an external hard drive only when backing up large files, such as video files, since continuous use can get tiresome.

Another option is a relatively recent addition to the storage industry, and that is online storage options. This involves backing up data to an off-site location through the Internet. This allows a user to access the data from any computer, but can be a little slow depending on the connection being used.

There is also network attached storage that is most often used by businesses that need a data storage solution that can easily be accessed by multiple users. This is often done by using multiple hard drives in a single array so the solution can be scaled to meet a growing businesses needs. Many companies also include an automated redundancy backup to help ensure the safety of sensitive data.

Some data storage options work best for business use while others may be more appropriate on a personal level. If you take the time to evaluate all your data storage options you will have a better chance at finding what works best for you. There is a data storage and backup solution for you no matter what your needs call for.

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Internet Attached Storage – Some questions about Network Backup Data and Recovery

May 8, 2009 · Filed Under Security · Comment 

??The internet is an ever evolving entity. Since its initial development, it has grown in leaps and bounds – taking on many different forms that no one thought of. One of the most innovative and useful services provided on the internet is offering enterprise data backup for PC, OSX, and Linux systems. And because internet data storage and backup is relatively new, here are some questions that would help you understand the concept more.

How is data security in internet backup services?

As with anything involved in the internet, proper encryption is the first question that pops up. You should be happy to know that any files that are stored in offsite backup services such as OPENRSM Cloud Backup, is safely stored away from any harm. It is effectively encrypted. However, you must also take a proactive approach and ask your vendor about their methods of security.

Are there such things as automatic backups?

Yes. Scheduled backups are services that are available to anyone who wants to take advantage of online backups. This option lets you specify the times where in you want your files and folders to be backed up. It also lets you choose how frequently you want to back up your files. This is a very useful feature with those who have slower connections because it gives you total control when you want to upload your files and folders. With slower connections, proper scheduling is critical in order to ensure proper transfer of data.

What types of data can I back up?

Almost all offsite services can give you the option of backing up any type of data that you have. All data types can be backed up and retreived. It does not matter if you want to upload data, documents, pictures, multimedia or any other type of files and database that you can think of. If you have it, you can upload back it up.

Can I backup my files even while utilizing my computer?

Of course. That’s why you need to plot your backups effectively so that the output and efficiency of your overall productivity is not compromised.  Qulity internet attached storage always has this feature.

How about when I use a different computer from my own, can I still access my back up data?

Yes, of course. The main reason why network backups are the most ideal backup is that because they are offsite storage media meaning they are in a different location from where you are working. This means that you can access them from anywhere and you can retrieve files from wherever you may be.

Obvious Online Backup Strategy

February 17, 2009 · Filed Under Data Recovery · Comment 

You’re probably wondering why would anyone decide to use the Internet as a backup system. Well, there are a great deal of reasons. First, if your backing up your files on the Internet you don’t need specialized hardware or software. As long as you have Cable, DSL, etc., nothing else is needed.Second, you (and only you) can access your backups from anywhere you connect to the Internet.And with good security and encryption, nobody will get your data or even realize where it is.

the Internet has millions of gigabytes of storage space available to you and you can generally find a variety of quality services that specialize in Internet Backup.  I pay around four bucks per month for my site and I’m backing up 30+ Gigs.Now I have over 40% of my allocated backup space available for added data at a low cost.

The first step is to determine which service to use.Most providers that do free trial periods end up being more expensive overall than the providers that don’t offer free trials.So you can do a little homework and get a better deal by discovering and joining a site with great features and no hidden expenses.  It’ll save you alot of money in the end. With all the comparison sites, online reviews, blogs, etc. it’s simple to make a quality decision.

So now, you’ve made a decision as to which provider you’ll use. The next step is to decide what files, music, pictures, financial data, etc. that you need to keep backed up. The best online backup providers have software that does all the work for you. and will automatically upload files after they’ve been encrypted for security. As you have figured out by now, the easiest to use services are also generally the best ones out there.  And the best will run on all common operating systems (online backup for Windows, MAC, and Linux is what I mean here).

The reason is they want you to use their service and if it’s too difficult, customers will go someplace else. The market is highly competitive and services with lightweight features or only focused on Windows or MAC only, etc. generally arn’t stable nor reliable and whose future existence isn’t assured at all. Therefore, make sure they support Windoes, MAC, and Linux.I they’re a quality provider they will. 

So, let’s put this basic overview into perspective with some questions you need to answer when selecting a Internet backup provider.

Do they make it simple for you by providing some free software?

Do they provide all features on MAC, Windows, and Linux?

Can you backup many computers with a single account?

What kind of Internet backup is it? How often do the backups occur?

How is your data encrypted? You must have encryption (preferably 256bit AES) for maximum security.

You have other issues that are important to you.But these questions will help you narrow down your selection to only the best providers in short order.