What technology do you use to back up your business’s data? Data loss is a concern when running a business. Research shows that about 6% of all computers will experience a data loss event in any given year. Depending on the type of data your business loses, you may struggle to keep your business up and running. There are several different technologies, however, with which you can back up your business’s data, some of the most common including the following.
#1) System Imaging
Also known as disk imaging, system imaging is a backup technology that involves the creation of a complete copy of a storage drive. You can’t selectively choose files to back up. With system imaging, all of the files and data on a given storage drive will be backed up. It’s known as “system imaging” because it creates a mirror image of the storage drive.
#2) Incremental
Most operating systems (OSs) offer incremental backups. Incremental backups are those created automatically at various intervals or increments. In Windows, it’s used to generate restore points. If something goes wrong with your computer and you’re unable to access some of your data, you can restore your computer to a previous point. Incremental backups are used to create these restore points.
#3) Reverse Incremental
While not as common as incremental, reverse incremental is another backup technology. It’s similar to incremental in the sense that they both involve the automatic creation of backups. The difference is that reverse incremental backups leverage a complete, non-image backup. This non-image backup is then synchronized with your computer’s live data in real time.
#4) Continuous
One of the most popular backup technologies is continuous. Also referred as continuous data protection, it leverages software to automatically create a backup each time data is modified. Whether you create new data, delete existing data or simply modify data, your changes will be reflected in the backup copy. Continuous technology, however, will only create a new backup when you change the data. In comparison, incremental technology will always create a new backup as per its schedule, regardless of whether you change the data.
#5) Near Continuous
Finally, there’s near continuous backup technology. Near continuous technology is pretty much the same as continuous but with one major difference. With continuous technology, multiple backup copies are stored. With near continuous technology, only a single backup copy is stored. Each time near continuous technology creates a new backup, copy, it will delete and overwrite the previous backup copy.
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