Backing up your data is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from hardware failure, ransomware, and other data loss events. Choosing the right backup software for your needs can ensure your data is properly protected. This guide will walk you through the key factors to consider when selecting backup software.
Determine Your Backup Needs
The first step is identifying your specific backup needs. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
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What types of data do I need to back up? This could include documents, photos, videos, financial files, emails, software installers, etc. Make a list of all critical data.
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How much data do I need to back up? Calculate approximately how much storage space you need for backups. This will help determine if a cloud backup or external drive is better.
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How often do I need to run backups? For frequently changing data like documents, daily or continuous backups are best. For media files that rarely change, weekly or monthly backups may suffice.
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What is my budget for backup software? Backup software ranges from free to several hundred dollars for businesses and advanced features. Determine how much you can spend.
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Do I need to back up to local storage or cloud storage? Cloud backup provides offsite protection and makes accessing backups from anywhere easy. But local external drive backups allow large backup capacities.
Compare Backup Software Options
With your needs in mind, compare these backup software options:
Cloud Backup Services
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Carbonite – Easy automated cloud backup with unlimited storage for around $72/year. Good for beginners.
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Backblaze – Unlimited cloud backup storage for $70/year. Has useful backup features.
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IDrive – Backs up unlimited devices into a single account for $79.50/year. Supports local external drive backups too.
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Acronis True Image – More advanced backup features including mirror imaging. Starts at $99/year.
Local Backup Software
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EaseUS Todo Backup – Full featured backup software that includes disk imaging for around $30.
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Macrium Reflect – Great disk imaging and bare metal restore software for Windows. Free version available.
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Veeam Agent – Powerful, advanced local and cloud backup solution for businesses and servers. Starts at $100 per 10 machines.
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Duplicati – Free backup software that encrypts then backs up to local, cloud, FTP, etc. donationware.
Key Features to Look For
- Disk imaging for full system backup and bare metal restores
- Incremental backups to save storage space
- Encryption to secure backups
- Compression to reduce backup size
- Scheduling for automated backups
- Backup verification to confirm integrity
- Mobile app for remote monitoring and restores
- Alerts to notify you of backup status
Test Backup Software Before Buying
Before purchasing backup software:
- Run trials to test the user interface and performance
- Verify the software can backup your specific data types
- Check that storage requirements fit within your budget
- Make sample restores to test the restore process
- Research reviews and comparisons between software
Taking the time to properly evaluate and test backup software for your needs will give you confidence that your data will be securely protected from loss.
Frequently Asked Questions About Backup Software
Which is better – cloud backup or local backup?
Cloud backup provides offsite protection and makes accessing your backups easy from anywhere, while local external drive backups allow much larger backup capacities with faster restore speeds. Using both together provides the best protection.
How often should I run backups?
For frequently changing data like documents, daily or continuous backups are recommended. For media files and system images that rarely change, weekly or monthly backups are sufficient.
Can I back up my mobile devices?
Many backup services like IDrive and Acronis True Image allow you to backup your mobile devices. Apps like Dropbox can also keep mobile data backed up.
Is backup software necessary or can I just copy files manually?
Backup software provides automated scheduling, versioning, compression, encryption, remote access, and bare metal restores that manual copying does not. This saves huge amounts of time and gives you significantly better protection.
What is the 3-2-1 backup strategy?
This best practice is to maintain 3 total copies of your data, on 2 different media types (cloud & local), with 1 copy being offsite. This provides sufficient redundancy.
