Why Backup Your Computer Data?

Let’s face it; our computers are a bigger part of life than ever before. We shop, work and play using computers. They’ve replaced stereos, encyclopedias, even the mailman. They’ve become journals, photo albums and canvases for our art.

But computers aren’t perfect. Files become corrupt, motherboards malfunction, CPUs call it quits taking our precious data with them.

The best defense is data backup software. Backing up data is vital for businesses; lost information can cause a major crisis or worse, lead to business failure. Individuals who don’t backup computer data run the same risk. While this may not cause financial ruin, it can certainly be frustrating and even heartbreaking. So why do so few of us practice data backup?

Here are the common excuses:

“I’m too busy to backup my computer.” We are busy; work, family and friends fill our days and leave us little time for boring things like computer maintenance. But today’s backup software manufacturers make it easy. Through scheduled backups, your system can automatically perform a backup that fits your needs at an interval you choose – without interrupting life.

“I don’t know how to backup data.” Like preparing for a natural disaster, most of us understand how important data backup is, but don’t know where to start. A big step is deciding how you are going to store the data you backup.

One option is Removable Backup Media, but this only narrows the field a little. You could buy a million 3.5″ discs or perhaps invest in a larger-capacity external Zip drive. You could take the plunge into writeable CDs or stretch out your legs with the help of an external hard drive.

Another good data backup option is to backup to an FTP location, which allows you to backup a file, a folder or your entire hard drive to a separate location online.

“My computer won’t crash.” You’ve had your computer this long and haven’t had problems so far why worry about computer backup now? Data backup is about protecting your data’s future, but with computers, it isn’t if you crash, it’s when you crash.

In today’s high-tech world of sneaky spyware and venomous viruses, you are in more danger of data loss than ever before. Computer viruses grew by as much as 11% percent during 2003 alone.*

Like tires on your car, the electronic circuits your computer rides on will eventually wear down and blow out. When this happens, you can either grieve at your loss or simply restore your data with data backup software.

So with that said, how does one choose the right backup software? There are many varieties available – some suited to a growing business and others for growing families. Some backup software is for technical experts, other packages for the technically challenged.

At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

References

Beauprez, Jennifer, The Denver Post: Experts fear ‘digital Pearl Harbor’. Mxlogic.com. (2003).
Interesting Online Data Backup Statistics

Article found at http://data-backup-software-review.toptenreviews.com/why-backup-your-com…

Interesting Statistics

90% of businesses that lose data from a disaster are forced to shut within two years of disaster.

80% of businesses without a well structured recovery plan are forced to shut within 12 months of a flood or fire.

43% of companies experiencing disasters never recover.

50% of companies experiencing a computer outrage will be forced to shut within 5 years.

Companies experiencing a computer outrage lasting longer than 10 days will never recover its full financial capacity.

Less than 50% of all organisations in the UK have a business continuity plan.

43% of companies who have a business continuity plan do not test it annually.

80% of companies have not developed crisis management to provide IT coverage to support business continuity to keep the business functioning.

25% of financial institutions have no business continuity plan.
Source – London Chamber of Commerce – May 2003
49% of SMEs fail to assess their vulnerability to data loss.

93% of businesses that suffer data loss for more than 10 days file for bankruptcy within 1 year, 50% immediately
Source – British Chamber of Commerce ICT Report

Worldwide storage services revenue is expected to rise from $26billion in 2002 to $41 billion in 2005.
Source – Dataquest Inc., a unit of Gartner, Inc.

The average data centre client has 7.5TB of online backup storage. That’s equivalent to a stack of 3.5” diskettes over 11 miles high (Mount Everest is only 5.5 miles high). By 2006 the average stack will reach 39 miles high.
Source – John Horo – Networks Storage Manager: hp

Viruses – 10% of PCs are infected with viruses each month. Of these, 37% of computer virus infections result in data loss.
Source – ICSA Labs/TruSecure, 2002)

Disk Crashes – Up to 20% of PCs suffer hardware failure in the first three years of use.
Source – Garter Analyst M. Margevicius, Aug 2001

Laptop Loss – Of the 2.3 million insurance claims for computer loss in 2001, 25% were theft related; notebook theft has increased by 53% since 2000.
Source – Safeware, The Insurance Agency Inc. 2001

More than 109,000TBs of unique enterprise PC data are not being regularly backed up.
Source – IDC analyst Fred Broussard, July 2002

As much as 60% of corporate data resides unprotected on PC desktops and laptops.
Source – IDC analyst Cynthia Doyle, April 2002

Viruses: Survey finds PCs infected at the rate of 10% each month.
Source – ICSA Labs, 2002

Make sure your business is never caught out by ensuring you have your online backup storage covered as well as any IT support needs you have by employing the services of an IT support company.

IgLou Offers Online Backups – contact us for more information or to sign up.
http://www.iglouonsite.com/online-backup/