Blog Posts

All About Data Backup Devices

Data backup devices still play an irreplaceable role for customers and firms in today’s technology world. There are quite a few pieces of necessary information you need to know about how to back up your data using these types of devices, and choosing the right one to match your needs might be frustrating.

Data loss might start an unfortunate chain of events that could damage a company or a customer. It sounds like a real disaster, doesn’t it? Did you know there are several ways to avoid it, starting with data backup devices? These devices could save you time, money, and most importantly, your customers and your reputation.

Source: Manuel Geissinger

What is data backup used for? 

Data backup is mainly used for keeping the data secure and taking caution in case of any data loss. Losing data could be the end of the road if you have yet to use any data backup devices or cloud-based data backup for further restoration. 

There are different kinds of malfunction events that could be encountered at certain times, such as corrupted software, hardware or software failures, cyber-attacks, or even simple human error. In the cases of malfunctions or issues, data backup is the go-to application that companies trust and people use. 

It is undoubtedly the best solution for keeping your data safe and ready to sub-in in case it is needed again. Multiple methods and devices can be used to execute the process, and you can choose the right one that benefits you most. 

Ready for a better way to do data backup?

Check out our demo to see how it’s done.

Watch now

Three types of data backup

Data backups are critical to safeguard critical information and guarantee that it is not lost in the event of a disaster. The three primary data backup types are full, differential, and incremental backups, which carry significant importance. Even though the method could vary, the context is the same, and every road leads to the same place, backing up the data. 

Full backup

A full backup is cloning ALL of the data. Performing a full backup will give you a complete copy of all your data as it is in the name itself. 

This process must constantly happen to ensure everything is safe and eligible for restoration in case of an emergency or disaster recovery event. Make sure the cloud platform or device you take your full backup is reliable and safe, in case you want to avoid facing a bigger disaster – the loss of backup data.

Differential backup

Differential data backup is the middle way of a full and incremental backup. When you have completed a full backup in the past, and it needs an update now, you perform differential backups to update all changes made to the files and directories.

In general, differential backups are conducted less frequently than incremental backups but more frequently than full backups.

Incremental backup

Incremental backups also start with a full backup, but this time, they only keep changes and additions made to the most recent incremental backup or full backup. 

Data backups are crucial for most industries, including SaaS applications like Salesforce. In the future, these three types of data backup solutions will help you restore anything you lost in case of an emergency.

Source: Kindel Media

Data backup: Advantages and disadvantages

Data backup offers multiple business-critical advantages, but it also has some disadvantages you might want to consider before getting started. Honestly, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages significantly, due to the concerns being minor. 

Advantages

Data backup will be your best friend that will show you the light at the end of the tunnel after a disaster occurs, so that you can get back to concentrating on your business’ actual needs again.

Lifesaver

The first advantage it offers is that it could be a lifesaver in certain disastrous situations, helping you with business continuity. It allows you to protect data at all costs and restore this lifeline of your business whenever you want.

Cyber-attacks and human error could lead to data loss, and firms must retrieve the data at all costs. Using data backup enables you to restore all the information again after the disaster – saving your organization. 

Multiple options

Different data backup devices offer different kinds of carriage and accessibility. For instance, you could personally use a USB stick to store your data and carry it with you, or use a cloud solution to access your data wherever you have internet access. 

Larger enterprises often partner with cloud storage services and back up all their data on secure networks. Another option businesses use to back up data is building storage areas where they put terabytes and gigabytes, upon byes into hard drives.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages are not the biggest concerns in this case, but they still cause some negative effects. Some organizations might be tight on time and money, and unfortunately, the two biggest cons of it are related to those two.

Might take too long

One of the biggest disadvantages of data backup is storing a massive amount of data will take a long time to back it up – at least with a full backup. Today’s technology allows firms to back up huge amounts of data, but unfortunately, some backup vendors still need to improve their backup standards. 

It could take days for an organization to back up its stored data either to cloud storage or external hard drives – especially full backups can cause time-related issues. 

Storage capacity and cost

Another disadvantage is the storage capacity. Again, having massive data requires massive storage space for a full backup. You could either use cloud storage or get one of the expensive external data backup devices. Companies with huge databases need incredibly large storage capacity, which might not be possible 24/7 with a physical backup device.

Source: Markus Spiske

What is the best way to backup your data?

The best ways to backup your data can vary, and plenty of combinations can be tried. It truly depends on your needs, your data, and the types of data backup devices you have available at your fingertips. 

A physical backup could be your best option if you are looking for a reliable solution from a more traditional tech period. Some companies and people find physical data backups safer and more reliable. That’s if you keep them safe and away from any damage, we don’t see any reason why your data could be lost.

On the other hand, cloud storage solutions offer a better user experience, scalability, and accessibility with a modernized system that can grow with your business. The major problem with cloud storage is that a cyber-attack could damage your data and cause possible data loss.

Why should you use data backup devices?

The simplest answer to this question is that data backup devices will help prevent possible data loss. If you use hardware or cloud solutions, your data will stay where it is unless you delete it permanently. Data backup devices will save the day and the data during a cyber disaster. Business continuity is one of the most important financial and user experience aspects. Activating data backup devices will help you survive the disaster.

Source: Azamat Esenaliev

Types of data backup (devices and more)

There are multiple ways to backup your data, either in cloud storage or a physical hard drive. Below are the pros and cons of both.

Physical backup devices

Physical backup options include external hard drives, USB drives, and optical media products that are way out of the modern world, such as CDs and DVDs. With the improvement of technology, nowadays, you can find external hard drives and USB drives that you can back up a massive amount of data to. However, CDs and DVDs are outdated, and most computers don’t have a CD or DVD drive. External hard drives and USB drives are the best options for a hardware-related solution.

Cloud storage

Keeping your data on cloud storage is always an option. Cloud data storage is one of the most popular data protection solutions in today’s technology standards as it offers you access to all your data as long as you have access to the internet. You could benefit from cloud storage by using AWS, Azure, and GCP. 

With modern SaaS backup and recovery options like GRAX, businesses can take advantage of backing up their data to customer-owned cloud storage or to on-premise backup. 

Need Salesforce data protection?

Speak with our protection specialists to get started.

Get in touch
See all
GRAX

Join the best
with GRAX Enterprise.

Be among the smartest companies in the world.