A few weeks ago, we wrote how crucial it is to have an online backup. We received some feedback discussing the need to have a local backup setup as well, so here it is:

Information stored on your computer is stored on the hard drive. Like any other piece of equipment, it too can die. Whereas any other part of the computer is simply replaceable, retrieving the data off of a failed hard drive is no simple feat; therefore we highly recommend having a proper backup system in place.

An online backup stores all your crucial information at another location, which protects your data from any local major catastrophe. If a minor catastrophe occurs, such as your hard drive fails, it can be hours, days or even weeks until all your data is mailed to you or downloaded. Therefore, a local backup system will be the savior – by allowing instant or almost instant recovery.

MIRRORED DRIVES, as the name implies, is having a copy of everything which is on your hard drive placed identically onto a second hard drive. This will allow for no down time, since in the event of a hard drive failure, the second hard drive kicks right in and all your data is right there.

EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES. Another option is having specific data saved onto an external hard drive. This approach has a major benefit in that it has a very low initial cost as well as zero maintenance cost. The drawback to this approach is you are merely saving the data, not the programs. Which means, if your hard drive fails, you have the data, but first you need to get a new hard drive, install the appropriate operating system, all your programs and then copy your data from your external hard drive.

CLONING. A third option is to clone or copy your entire hard drive as one big file onto an external hard drive. The down side to this approach if you are attempting to clone several computers onto one hard drive, the space may become an issue!