Back-ups
Making a copy of your data is called a 'back-up'.
Another sensible reason for making a back-up of your work is not only in case the hard disk fails or is stolen but because it is possible for files to become corrupted or damaged. If this were to happen you would be able to re-install a working copy of your files from the back-up you had made.
Another sensible reason for making a back-up of your work is not only in case the hard disk fails or is stolen but because it is possible for files to become corrupted or damaged. If this were to happen you would be able to re-install a working copy of your files from the back-up you had made.
Full back-ups
Were all data is backed up on a removable device.
This method offers the 'ultimate' protection against data loss as any of the removable devices can provide the ability to restore the system very quickly at any point in time.
This is not the most efficient back-up strategy because if files haven't been changed then you will be copying the same files that you have done previously. Removable storage media has a cost both in terms of the actual device and also in terms of space in storing all of those back-ups.
As more data is created, it will take longer to back up all the data onto the removable device. A further concern is security, the removable could contain important information, this information could be stolen.
This method offers the 'ultimate' protection against data loss as any of the removable devices can provide the ability to restore the system very quickly at any point in time.
This is not the most efficient back-up strategy because if files haven't been changed then you will be copying the same files that you have done previously. Removable storage media has a cost both in terms of the actual device and also in terms of space in storing all of those back-ups.
As more data is created, it will take longer to back up all the data onto the removable device. A further concern is security, the removable could contain important information, this information could be stolen.
Incremental back-ups
A full back-up of the system is made initially. Then at regular intervals, only the files which have been changed since the last incremental back-up are copied. Software is used to identify which files have changed.
An incremental system of backing-up is much faster than making full back-ups.
However, if the system should need to be restored it would take much longer than restoring from a full back-up.
An incremental system of backing-up is much faster than making full back-ups.
However, if the system should need to be restored it would take much longer than restoring from a full back-up.
Archiving Data
When projects finish or files are no longer being used then there is no real need to store them on the network or system. However, it is likely that the organisation will want to keep a copy for future reference.
Archiving is the term used to refer to making a copy of data or files which are no longer in use, removing the files from the network or system and then storing the files away from the computer, ready to be accessed at a later date if required.
Archiving is the term used to refer to making a copy of data or files which are no longer in use, removing the files from the network or system and then storing the files away from the computer, ready to be accessed at a later date if required.
Advantages
- you have a permanent record or source of the data/files that are no longer in use
- reduces data which is stored on the network or system thus making it faster to back-up
- network storage space is expensive. By archiving data it frees up space for data or files which are currently in use.
- improves the performance of the system since less files stored.
- reduces data which is stored on the network or system thus making it faster to back-up
- network storage space is expensive. By archiving data it frees up space for data or files which are currently in use.
- improves the performance of the system since less files stored.
Disadvantages
When files are backed up, the original data still remains on the system. Whereas with archiving, once a copy has been made, the original files are removed from the system.