| Computers affect the way we live, communicate, | | | | backup work will become sheer waste of time. |
| work, and entertain today more than ever before. | | | | Moreover, you can forget to copy some files which |
| So, the information stored on them becomes very | | | | you may need most of all after data loss. |
| significant. Loosing data from your hard drive is at | | | | With special backup software you can use |
| least unpleasant, but in some cases also very | | | | automated procedures for regular backup and |
| expensive. At the same time, not all of us take | | | | synchronization under your own schedule. Backup |
| measures to protect their data. Moreover, day after | | | | software will do all the routine work on copying files |
| day we hear about alarming accidents of data loss. | | | | for you, you only need to set what, when and |
| But why reliable backup strategies are not as much | | | | where you wish to backup. |
| widespread as data crash accidents? - Perhaps, | | | | In other words, manual copying of files is not as |
| because people have some wrong notions about | | | | reliable and comfortable as using special data backup |
| backup software and about the problem of data loss | | | | software. |
| in general. | | | | - Myth 3: Backup software sufficiently slows down |
| Precious personal and work data is stored in a | | | | computer performance |
| computer's hard disk, but no hard disk is perfect. | | | | Some people think that backup jobs require too |
| Sometimes they die, and so does the information | | | | much hardware resources (space on a disk and CPU |
| stored. Furthermore, viruses, human errors and even | | | | time) and it is tiresome to run them often. They |
| natural disasters or theft can take away your data | | | | suspect that backup software will impede using |
| without any chance of restoring. One reliable solution | | | | computer for work, entertainment or other purposes. |
| for the problem of data loss is backup software that | | | | In fact, most backup programs are not |
| makes reserve copies of your critical data | | | | resource-consuming. A typical backup program |
| automatically. There is a great variety of such | | | | requires only operation system installed and about 5 |
| data-safe program to choose from. But why do | | | | Mb free disk space for program files. So, if your |
| people still ignore this software? | | | | computer meets these requirements you have |
| In this article we'll try to denote some possible | | | | nothing to worry about. In other words, if you |
| reasons of ignoring backup software and to destroy | | | | computer can have an operation system running, it |
| some myths about backup preventing people from | | | | will easily run a backup program. |
| using it. We have summarized these notions in four | | | | Moreover, with a scheduler you can set your backup |
| common «myths» and will try to expose | | | | operations execution on the most convenient time. |
| them. | | | | For example, during lunch time or when you sleep. |
| - Myth 1: The risk of data loss is insignificant | | | | Moreover, some backup programs can run in service |
| Some people believe that data loss is not their | | | | mode. In service mode, the backup is independent |
| problem. Why don't they care? Because they just | | | | from the currently logged in user. The benefit is that |
| know nothing about possible crucial hardware faults | | | | your backup tasks are processed even if somebody |
| and destructive effect of such faults on the stored | | | | else is using the system at the moment or if nobody |
| information. | | | | is logged in at all. |
| Actually, there are high risks of data loss. According | | | | As you see, with a good backup program you can |
| to the survey conducted by Verio (Global Premier | | | | perform reserve copying operations in any time you |
| Provider of Online Services), fifty-three percent of | | | | wish. It means that you can have backups running |
| respondents have already experienced an actual loss | | | | when you are idle, and they will not interfere with |
| of information that was stored on a PC. Six percent | | | | your work. |
| of PCs will suffer an episode of data loss in any given | | | | - Myth 4: Using backup software is difficult, |
| year. 31% of PC users have ever lost all of their files | | | | time-consuming and expensive |
| due to events beyond their control. | | | | Imaginary difficulties of data backup procedures |
| The reasons of losing data may vary greatly - power | | | | make users think about backup as a waste of time |
| faults, short life of the hardware, viruses or hacker | | | | and money and as the result refuse it, hoping for the |
| attacks... The fact is: you can irretrievably lose the | | | | best. We are busy at work, family and friends fill our |
| information stored on your home or work computer | | | | days and leave us little time for boring things like |
| (i.e. project data, email correspondence, personal | | | | computer maintenance. But backing up data is much |
| information, irreparable and urgent documents) if the | | | | easier than it seems. |
| hard disk crashes. | | | | Please forget fairy tales about baffling complexity of |
| Learn by others' mistakes: thoughtless attitude | | | | backup programs! Most of backup programs have |
| toward data backup has fatal consequences. Most | | | | Wizards with intuitive user interface which let you |
| people and organizations come to understand this | | | | configure your backup task with ease. A typical |
| only after loosing their crucial data accidentally. With | | | | backup program can be installed within several |
| special backup software your data is more likely to | | | | minutes. Setting a backup task takes several minutes |
| be always on hand. | | | | more. That's all. Then the backup program will take |
| - Myth 2: Copying files manually is more effective | | | | care of your crucial data. |
| Some people are aware of the risk of data loss and | | | | After all, the price of such a program (30-70$ for |
| try to deal with this problem without special backup | | | | single license) is far less then the costs of data loss. |
| software. These people protect the data on their | | | | We have tried to expose some myths about backup |
| own. | | | | and to mark some positive abilities that backup |
| Common practice for such people is copying data to | | | | software gives us. Today's backup software offers |
| digital media occasionally. In other words, they copy | | | | comfortable way to make reserve copies of your |
| their data without any backup software. Of course, it | | | | crucial data. As more people get familiar with |
| is better than nothing. But is it enough for guaranteed | | | | automated backup solutions, they tend to become |
| data protection? You can simply forget to make a | | | | must-have software, along with e-mail clients, word |
| backup before a hard disk fault, and your previous | | | | processors and anti-virus programs. |