One of the most commonly used media for creating a back up is the CD.
CD's
CD's are inexpensive and transferring data unto them is easy. They are portable too. Portability of a media entails the advantage of placing it off site. Their storing capacity ranges from 650 to 700 MB and the data transfer rate is high. Above all, they are not susceptible to magnets.
But, if you are using an older version of the computer, you might have to install a CD burner and this is expensive. Though, they have life span of a decade, regular usage damages them. And, scratched CDs fail to work.
Another media that is easily comparable to a CD is the DVD.
DVDs
DVDs share almost all the advantages and disadvantages of CD's; however they have a comparatively longer life span ranging from 30 to 100 years. This feature along with their large storing capacity makes them good for archival purpose. They are also inexpensive and portable.
Though they are portable, they cannot be used in all computers. For, they can be run only if the computer has a DVD burner and its installation is expensive.
If you do not have a CD or DVD burner you can think about using the magnetic tape.
Magnetic Tapes
These look similar to the audio or video cassette. They are inexpensive and their storing capacity ranges from a few MB to 800GB. Their data retention capacity is for 30 years. But, the draw back encountered while retrieving data is that it takes time to roll the tape to reach a particular part of the data. For, it allows only sequential access of data unlike hard drives that allow random access.
External Hard Drives
Hard drives retain data for a decade and a half and their failure rate is comparatively lower than a few other storage media. They can store a large amount of data with capacities ranging from 40 to 250GB. Being easy to use they just have to be plugged in to the computer’s USB port using a cord. They are also portable.
But, they have a few inherent disadvantages. They have to be handled carefully. They get damaged when dropped or placed near magnets.
However, one storage media that remains undamaged by magnets is the USB flash drive also known as pen drive, memory stick, thumb drive, etc.
USB Flash
Magnets fail to affect their file retention capacity. They are inexpensive and portable. They can be easily used; they have to be just plugged in the computer. Their data transfer rate is quite high. A USB 1.0 transfers 1.5 to 12 MB/sec and a USB 2.0 has a data transfer rate of 480 MB/sec.
But a USB 2.0 is expensive and they are so small that they might get easily misplaced.
USB flash is a modern invention and is slowly turning popular. Another back up device that is not as modern is the floppy disk.
Floppy Disks
Floppy disks are in existence since the last 2 to 3 decades. But, they have now turned obsolete due to their low storing capacity of just 1.44 MB and short life span. They are at best used for transporting data as they are portable and inexpensive and every computer has hardware to use it.
Zip Disk
A popularly accepted modern version of the floppy is the zip disk. But, they can only be used in a zip drive and its installation is expensive. However, they are less expensive, easy to use and their longer life span of a decade makes them ideal for archival purpose. They are quite durable.
The durability of every back up media depends upon the manner it is handled and stored. Any back up media should be placed in a cool and dry location away from direct sunlight. Placing them near magnetic fields or dust prone areas damages them.
Whatever be the back up media that is used, all effort would be a total waste, if the created back up is not regularly updated. Moreover, the media should be placed offsite. This would protect data against natural disasters that are all encompassing in their magnitude. And, a final word of caution. Encryption of the created back up prevents data theft.
CD's
CD's are inexpensive and transferring data unto them is easy. They are portable too. Portability of a media entails the advantage of placing it off site. Their storing capacity ranges from 650 to 700 MB and the data transfer rate is high. Above all, they are not susceptible to magnets.
But, if you are using an older version of the computer, you might have to install a CD burner and this is expensive. Though, they have life span of a decade, regular usage damages them. And, scratched CDs fail to work.
Another media that is easily comparable to a CD is the DVD.
DVDs
DVDs share almost all the advantages and disadvantages of CD's; however they have a comparatively longer life span ranging from 30 to 100 years. This feature along with their large storing capacity makes them good for archival purpose. They are also inexpensive and portable.
Though they are portable, they cannot be used in all computers. For, they can be run only if the computer has a DVD burner and its installation is expensive.
If you do not have a CD or DVD burner you can think about using the magnetic tape.
Magnetic Tapes
These look similar to the audio or video cassette. They are inexpensive and their storing capacity ranges from a few MB to 800GB. Their data retention capacity is for 30 years. But, the draw back encountered while retrieving data is that it takes time to roll the tape to reach a particular part of the data. For, it allows only sequential access of data unlike hard drives that allow random access.
External Hard Drives
Hard drives retain data for a decade and a half and their failure rate is comparatively lower than a few other storage media. They can store a large amount of data with capacities ranging from 40 to 250GB. Being easy to use they just have to be plugged in to the computer’s USB port using a cord. They are also portable.
But, they have a few inherent disadvantages. They have to be handled carefully. They get damaged when dropped or placed near magnets.
However, one storage media that remains undamaged by magnets is the USB flash drive also known as pen drive, memory stick, thumb drive, etc.
USB Flash
Magnets fail to affect their file retention capacity. They are inexpensive and portable. They can be easily used; they have to be just plugged in the computer. Their data transfer rate is quite high. A USB 1.0 transfers 1.5 to 12 MB/sec and a USB 2.0 has a data transfer rate of 480 MB/sec.
But a USB 2.0 is expensive and they are so small that they might get easily misplaced.
USB flash is a modern invention and is slowly turning popular. Another back up device that is not as modern is the floppy disk.
Floppy Disks
Floppy disks are in existence since the last 2 to 3 decades. But, they have now turned obsolete due to their low storing capacity of just 1.44 MB and short life span. They are at best used for transporting data as they are portable and inexpensive and every computer has hardware to use it.
Zip Disk
A popularly accepted modern version of the floppy is the zip disk. But, they can only be used in a zip drive and its installation is expensive. However, they are less expensive, easy to use and their longer life span of a decade makes them ideal for archival purpose. They are quite durable.
The durability of every back up media depends upon the manner it is handled and stored. Any back up media should be placed in a cool and dry location away from direct sunlight. Placing them near magnetic fields or dust prone areas damages them.
Whatever be the back up media that is used, all effort would be a total waste, if the created back up is not regularly updated. Moreover, the media should be placed offsite. This would protect data against natural disasters that are all encompassing in their magnitude. And, a final word of caution. Encryption of the created back up prevents data theft.
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