Our personal data, photos, music and documents are invaluable and should therefore be well protected. Data loss can not only be financially painful, but also mean the loss of memories and important information. That’s why it’s important to make regular backups and keep them in a safe place. Some backup solutions even offer the option of setting up automatic backups that are carried out at regular intervals.

Before choosing a backup solution, you should consider what data you want to back up and how often you want to back it up. There are different types of backup solutions, such as local backups on an external hard drive or cloud-based backups. It is important that you choose a solution that suits your needs. You should also make sure that your data is stored in encrypted form and that you can quickly access your backups in an emergency.

Cloud-based backup solutions are becoming increasingly popular as they offer the benefit of data being stored on secure servers. Another benefit is that you can access your data from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. There are many providers of cloud solutions, such as Google Drive, Dropbox or iCloud. However, you should make sure that your data is stored in encrypted form and that the provider is trustworthy.

Some of the best cloud providers suitable for backup:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS):

AWS offers a variety of cloud storage solutions, including S3 for simple file storage and Glacier for long-term data archiving.

• Google Cloud Storage:

Google offers both simple file storage services and automated backup and archiving services.

• Microsoft Azure:

Azure offers a range of data storage and backup services. Azure Backup is a dedicated service that backs up both physical and virtual machines.

• IBM Cloud:

IBM offers a range of cloud storage solutions and backup services, including solutions specifically designed for businesses.

• Dropbox Business:

Dropbox is known for its easy file syncing and sharing, but the business version also has cross-machine backup support.

• Box:

Similar to Dropbox, Box offers cloud storage and file sharing, with added features for businesses.

• Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage:

Backblaze specializes in backup and offers affordable cloud storage well suited for backup purposes.

• Carbonite:

Carbonite offers cloud backup services for computers and servers with a variety of plans to choose from.

• IDrive:

IDrive offers cloud backup for PC, Mac, iPhone, Android and Windows phones and servers.

A tiered backup strategy, also known as the 3-2-1 rule, is a best-practice approach to data protection. The goal is to prevent data loss and ensure data can be recovered quickly in cases of hardware failure, data corruption, human error, or natural disasters. Here’s what the 3-2-1 rule entails:

• 3 copies of your data:

The first copy is the primary version of your data that you use on a daily basis. The other two copies serve as backups.

• 2 different media:

It is important that you keep your backups on at least two different types of storage media. For example, this could be a combination of hard disk, SSD , magnetic tape, DVD or cloud storage. This rule is important to ensure that a failure of one storage medium does not endanger all of your data.

• 1 offsite copy:

At least one of your backup copies should be kept in a different geographic location. This could be in a cloud or on physical storage media that you keep in a secure location away from your main location. The reason is that disasters like fire or flood could completely destroy your data if all copies are kept in the same place.

This strategy is considered to be one of the most effective data loss prevention methods and should be used regardless of the size of your system, whether it is dealing with personal files or corporate data.

There are many backup tools on the market that have different features and prices. Some tools are free while others are paid. The most popular tools include Acronis True Image, EaseUS Todo Backup, and BackupAssist. To find the right backup solution for you, you should compare the different options and decide on a solution that suits your needs.

Acronis True Image is software designed for comprehensive backup and recovery purposes. It was introduced by Acronis, a technology company specializing in cyber protection and cloud storage. The software offers both cloud and local storage options and can be used for backing up anything from a single file to an entire hard drive or operating system.

Here are some of the key features of Acronis True Image:

• Full image backups: Acronis True Image can create an exact image of a hard drive. This includes all files, applications, operating system data and even free disk space. This allows a system to be fully restored in the event of a total failure.
• Cloud-Backups: Acronis True Image supports backup to Acronis Cloud. Users can select files and folders and set up automatic backups.
• Local backups: Users can backup to local storage devices such as external hard drives, NAS devices or network shares.
• Ransomware Protection: Acronis True Image includes a feature called Acronis Active Protection that protects the computer from ransomware attacks in real time.
• Disk Cloning: The software can be used to transfer an exact copy of one hard drive to another. This is useful, for example, when moving to a larger hard drive or a SSD want to upgrade.
• File synchronization: Users can sync files and folders between multiple computers or to Acronis Cloud.
• Bootable Media and Universal Restore: Acronis True Image can create bootable media to boot and rescue a system that fails to start. In addition, the Universal Restore feature can be used to restore a system to dissimilar hardware.

Acronis True Image offers various pricing models, including a one-time purchase option and subscription plans with varying levels of storage on Acronis Cloud. Exact pricing may vary by plan and region.

Veeam Backup & Replication is powerful, flexible and reliable backup and recovery software designed primarily for virtual environments. It supports VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V virtualization platforms. Veeam has also expanded to offer backup and recovery capabilities for physical servers and workstations, as well as cloud-based workloads.

Here are some key features of Veeam Backup & Replication:

• Backup: Veeam allows full VM backups and incremental backups. The software can also ensure application consistency to ensure applications running on virtual machines can be restored correctly.
• Replication: With the replication feature, users can create a copy of a virtual machine and deploy it to another host. This is particularly useful for disaster recovery and high availability.
• Restoration: Veeam offers multiple recovery options including full VM recovery, individual VM file recovery, application element recovery, and individual file recovery within a VM.
• Instant VM Recovery: This feature allows users to start a VM directly from a backup, greatly reducing downtime.
• Security: Veeam offers AES 256-bit encryption for both data at rest and data in transit.
• Integration with storage solutions: Veeam integrates with a range of storage solutions from vendors such as HPE, NetApp and Dell EMC to enable improved backup and recovery times.
• Cloud mobility: With Veeam, backups and restores can be performed to, from, and within AWS, Microsoft Azure, and IBM Cloud, allowing greater flexibility in hybrid cloud environments.

Veeam Backup & Replication is part of the Veeam Availability Suite, which also includes Veeam ONE, a monitoring, reporting and capacity planning solution. Veeam’s licensing model is typically subscription-based, with pricing varying based on the number of licenses needed.

EaseUS Todo Backup is an all-in-one backup and restore software suitable for both personal and business use. The software was developed by the company EaseUS, which specializes in data management and data recovery solutions.

Here are some of the key features of EaseUS Todo Backup:

• Full, incremental and differential backups: EaseUS Todo Backup allows you to do different types of backups to suit your needs and preferences.
• System backup and restore: The software can perform a full backup of your system, which is useful when you need to restore your computer due to hardware failure, virus attack, or other problems.
• Disk/partition backup: You can create a complete backup copy of a disk or partition, including all data and configuration.
• Cloud-Backup: EaseUS Todo Backup allows backing up files to various cloud storage services including OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox.
• File and folder backup: You can select specific files and folders to back up.
• Clone: You can make a complete copy of a Create HDD or SSD, which is useful if you want to upgrade to a larger HDD or SSD.
• Scheduled Backups: EaseUS Todo Backup allows you to automate backups by scheduling them.

EaseUS Todo Backup comes in different versions including a free version with basic backup features and paid versions that include advanced features like system and smart backups, email alerts, offsite copies, and free technical support.

Macrium Reflect is a highly rated backup and recovery software designed for both home and business users. It is made by the UK based company Macrium Software.

Macrium Reflect’s main features include:

• Disk Imaging: Macrium Reflect creates an accurate image of the hard drive partitions necessary for the operation of your computer. This allows full recovery in the event of a system failure.
• Disk Cloning: This feature allows you to transfer an exact copy of one hard drive to another hard drive. This is useful when upgrading to a new disk or replacing a failed disk.
• File and Folder Backup: Macrium Reflect can also back up individual files or folders instead of creating a full disk image.
• Incremental and Differential Backups: In addition to full backups, Macrium Reflect also supports incremental and differential backups, which only use the Save changes since the last full backup.
• Scheduled Backups: You can automate backups by scheduling them.
• Backup to Network Location: Macrium Reflect can backup to a network share, which is useful if you have a home or office network.
• Rescue Media Builder: Macrium Reflect includes tools to create bootable rescue media. This is very useful when your system won’t boot and you need to restore the last backup.

Macrium Reflect offers different editions, including a free version with basic features, as well as paid Home and Business Editions with advanced features and support. The exact price may vary depending on the version and license.

GoodSync is file synchronization and file backup software developed by Siber Systems. It can be used to transfer files between directories, different computers, network drives, FTP servers< /a> and other storage devices. GoodSync is available for various platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux and NAS devices.

Here are some of GoodSync’s key features:

• Synchronization in real time: GoodSync can sync files in real-time as soon as changes are detected.
• Block-level data transmission: GoodSync can detect block-level changes and transfer only the changed parts of the files, increasing transfer speed and saving bandwidth.
• Backup and restore: Besides syncing files, GoodSync can also be used for backup purpose including restoring files.
• Unidirectional and bidirectional synchronization: GoodSync supports both unidirectional (backup) and bidirectional synchronization.
• Support for various storage solutions: GoodSync can sync files between local drives, network drives, FTP servers, SFTP servers, Amazon S3, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and many others.
• Versioning: GoodSync saves previous versions of files and allows users to revert to previous versions.
• Scheduled jobs: GoodSync allows you to schedule sync and backup jobs to run automatically at specific times.
• Chaining of Sync Jobs: GoodSync allows sync jobs to be chained, so one job can trigger a number of other jobs when it completes.

GoodSync offers a free version for personal use as well as paid versions with advanced features and support.

Duplicati is a free, open-source backup program capable of creating encrypted, incremental, compressed backups to cloud storage services and local storage devices. It was developed with .NET and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Some of Duplicati’s main functions and features include:

• Encryption: Duplicati uses strong AES-256 encryption to protect your data both in transit and at rest on the destination storage device.
• Incremental Backups: As mentioned, Duplicati creates incremental backups. This means that after creating a full backup, only the changed parts of files will be saved in future backups. This saves storage space and transmission bandwidth.
• Compression: Duplicati compresses and deduplicates your data before storing it, reducing the storage space required.
• Support for different storage locations: Duplicati can back up to a variety of locations including local hard drives, network attached storage (NAS), and a variety of cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Amazon S3, Microsoft OneDrive, and many more.
• Scheduled Backups: Duplicati lets you schedule backups to ensure your data is backed up regularly.
• Web-based user interface: Duplicati offers a user-friendly, web-based user interface that you can operate via your web browser.
• Command line interface: For more advanced users, Duplicati also offers a command line interface that offers more control and customization.
• Open-Source: Because Duplicati is open-source, anyone can review the code and adjust if necessary.

It should be noted that Duplicati, like many other backup solutions, does not provide full system or disk image backup. It is mainly intended for backing up specific files and directories.

Time Machine is Apple’s built-in backup system for macOS computers. Designed to make data backup as easy as possible, it offers a simple and easy-to-use method of backing up your files to an external hard drive or compatible network storage.

Here are some of Time Machine’s key features and functions:

• Automated backups: Once Time Machine is configured and recognizes a suitable backup drive, it automatically performs hourly backups for the last 24 hours, daily backups for the last month, and weekly backups for all previous months.
• Versioning: Time Machine stores multiple versions of your files. So if you change or delete a file, you can revert to a previous version of that file.
• System recovery: Time Machine can back up not only files, but your entire system. If something goes wrong, you can restore your Mac to an earlier state or even restore a new Mac with your old Mac’s data.
• Easy to handle: Time Machine is known for its ease of setup and operation. All you have to do is select a suitable drive and activate Time Machine.
• Integrated support: Since Time Machine was created by Apple, it is embedded in MacOS and supported directly in the system.
• Local and network backups: Time Machine can store backups on an external hard drive or on a network device, such as an Apple Time Capsule or another Mac.

It’s important to note that while Time Machine is a very convenient backup solution, it doesn’t protect against data loss caused by physical damage to your backup disk or natural disasters. That’s why it’s good practice to use an offsite or cloud backup solution in addition to Time Machine.

As we have seen, a wide variety of types of external storage media and types are available for data backup. Choosing the right medium and storage method depends on several factors, including the size of the data to be backed up, the speed of data transfer, cost, durability, and portability.

Here we have summarized the most common types of storage media for data backup:

External hard drives offer high storage capacity and fast data transfer rates at a relatively low cost. They are ideal for backing up large amounts of data, e.g. with the MacOS Time Machine function or Windows backup. The disadvantage, however, is that hard drives are quite prone to mechanical damage, and also quite slow in terms of reading and writing speeds.

USB flash drives are small and portable, making them good for backing up smaller amounts of data or transporting files between different devices. They are less suitable for large backups since the cost per gigabyte is the highest.

Network storage, also known as Network Attached Storage (NAS), is a type of external storage device that attaches to your home or office network. NAS devices are ideal for backup and file sharing in multi-user or multi-device environments.

While cloud storage is not an “external medium” in the traditional sense, it offers many benefits for data backup. This includes access from anywhere, automatic backups and high reliability. Popular cloud storage services for backups include Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and iCloud, among many others as we discussed earlier.

CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs can also be used for backup, but are not highly recommended due to their limited storage capacity and susceptibility to physical damage and wear and tear.

External SSDs have similar benefits to external hard drives, but are significantly faster and not prone to mechanical damage. However, they are also slightly more expensive per gigabyte. But if you have to choose between an HDD and an SSD, I always recommend going for an SSD!

However, always be aware that no single backup method is 100% perfect. The best strategy is usually a combination of local backups (e.g. on an external SSD) and offsite backups (e.g. in the cloud) to protect against all types of data loss as much as possible.

But whatever backup method you ultimately choose, it’s still better than no backup at all. Because once the data is gone, it’s gone, and there’s a lot of trouble!

Also interesting: Automatic backup of your files under Windows 10