Data Backup Software and Service

Another brilliant approach is continuous backup software, which constantly monitors changes in designated folders or files and copies them to the backup repository in real time. However, this means corrupted files, viruses attack, and some undesirables are also backed up (versioning mechanisms can help you find the last good copy, though), as well as a slight drain on your computer’s resources. IBM Tivoli Continuous Data Protection for Files (starter edition for individual PCs) is a prime commercial example of this genre.

The most commonly used however, is local backup software. These utilities create differential or incremental backup files of important data, after an initial full backup. This brings quicker, smaller backups and relatively easy restoration of individual data. (Differential backup copies all changes since the last full backup; incremental backup copies all changes since the last incremental backup, so you can end up with many incremental files.) If your entire hard disk is trashed, however, you will have to find and reinstall the operating system and all your software before you restore your original data, and then you’ll have to restore the full backup followed by the last differential backup, or each incremental backup.