Bakckup

A backup is software created to protect all information stored on your computer from any damages or complete data loss. Reasons for such data loss can be various: all kinds of malicious software, natural disasters, equipment breakdown or human intrusion aimed at stealing the personal information stored on computer. In order to protect your data from such troubles you should select the best backup manager and best backup software which will remove all threads connected with risk of important data loss.

Year after year the popularity of backup software is constantly growing as well as the need for such software: with the development of brand new technologies the number of computer viruses and other malware is rising causing the loss of very important user information. Today there are several backup kinds, each of them used for protection of a certain file type. There are 4 main kinds and a number of additional ones to enhance capabilities of this software and give more chances to users to protect their data. Examples of such additional kind can be сloud backup, mirror copying or block copying.

To better understand the principles of backup and backup software learn the nitty-gritty of this phenomenon in "What a backup is?".

After you have fully comprehended the importance of data backup and understood that without the second copy risk of data loss is much higher learn all conditions necessary for computer backup. The key point is to understand that you should take into consideration many factors and nuances when creating backup files.

So-called remote backup or online backup is becoming more and more popular today. This service provides user with data storage system that can be built in any client program. The system collects data and passes it to backup server serving as a backup service provider. Many online backup reviews give detailed description of such service, ways and conditions of its providing and variants of backup storing. Besides, you can use free online backup. However, before that learn all software details to make sure you really need it.

Backup online has both advantages and drawbacks thought the former are prevailing (multiplatformness, possibility to create copies of open files, data encryption, etc.). Online data backup is rather reliable way of protection your data against information damage or loss. That's why if you are interested in Android backup, server backup or any other online backup services then online storage is exactly what you need.

Among all kinds of data recovery (including software and software and hardware methods) ТМВ is the most popular. It creates copies of your data using automatic saving after each change in the file.

Today free backup software is becoming more and more popular among users for its accessibility, fast download, performance security and reliability. All these features make such software the leader of downloads. Almost every online backup service permits to work with best online backup, so even using a free online storage you can be absolutely sure about receiving a high-quality product able to protect your data from being corrupted.

File backing up is your reliable assistant in your struggle against data loss and corruption. Having downloaded and installed a backup you will be able to recover damaged information anytime without any risk of losing it.

What is Backup?

How can you avoid the loss of important files stored on your computer? Very often a user does not even think that it may occur until some incorrect action or virus causes data loss. Computer files are not very durable. Any program error, incorrect connection, virus or worm will be enough to corrupt or completely delete your important data. The risk of such loss is increased in case you use your computer for work.

Backup is the way out

To prevent such cases you should remember about such important process as data backup. A backup is creating copies of all data stored on your computer or data carrier. Such process is aimed at data recovery in case it was damaged or removed. As a rule a copy is created in the original place of data location and performed by special software called data duplicator.

You can make backup copies on a portable data medium, which allows taking them along and using wherever you need them.

Apart from backing up such programs also duplicates and transfers data. Among additional functions there is working with common documents (available from a remote computer via the local area network).

What are the requirements of the stable performance of backup systems?

First of all it is storage security. It is achieved by means of information duplicating, substitution lost data by its copies and use of failsafe equipment.

A most important factor for every user is easy installation and operation of backup systems. Also there is such function as automatic performance allowing users to minimize their participation in the backup process.

When should one make backups?

Of course, there is no need in everyday creating copies of all files stored on your computer. The best variant is to copy the files you usually use during the working day. Another variant for you is to copy only the most important documents such as address book, system parameters, mail box etc.).

You can also use portable data media or special backup software for making copies of your important information. Such software will automatically back up your hard drive and allow you to recover all files in case they were lost.

Backup types

Before installing any backup software you should determinate what backup method is the most suitable for you.

The choice of backup depends on the volume of data to be copied as well as its specifics.

There are 4 main types of automatic backing up:

1. Full backup: this type covers all files in a system. It is desirable that you perform full backing up once a week (for example, on a weekend) so that all necessary be copied. You need the full backup in case you want to have large volume of information copied. If any file is damaged or removed you will be able to easily recover it from the copy. If the volume is rather large then you need a lot of time and disk space to create a backup. In such situation it is better to use other backup types.

2. Incremental backup covers only those files having been changed since the last full or additional backup. Thus, every next incremental backup will copy only those files that were changed since the latest additional backup. Such backup type requires less time for the volume of data is considerably less if compared to a full backup. However, bear in mind that the data recovery process will take more time in this case because all data will be recovered (not only data of the last full backup).

3. Differential backup covers every file changed since the last full backup. In this case the last full and differential copies are all you need for a backup. This method is becoming more and more popular among users because all copies are made at certain time that is very important in case your computer is infected with viruses.

4. File-by-file backup deals with every single file and copies it. The performance of such baking up can be raised by means of regular disk defragmentation.

Except these four main backup types there are some other types, namely mirror backup (bidirectional folder synchronization) and block level incremental backup (only introduced changes are backed up).

Backup storage

When a backup is created a question arises: Where and how this backup must be stored? Here you should take into consideration such thing as circumstances of backup further use.

There are two main situations when you have to use a backup:

- An emergency when you require global recovery of data

- On user's demand: recovery of separate files only

Depending on a situation you will have different approaches to the backup storage method. For example, you deleted an important file and want to recover it at once. That means that the backup should be stored near your computer. In case of emergency when you need to have all data recovered on one or several computers you should make sure, that there is no way for backups to be lost together with computer.

As you see one should have a very serious approach to the place and method of backup storing. Here are the most popular data storage media.

HDD: a backup is made on the hard disk of your computer. This method does not ensure 100 percent protection guaranty for there is also a risk of losing the backup along with the original data if the computer is damaged.

DVD (CD): a backup is made on a compact disk. Usually a disk has enough space for regular backing up and a DVD suits perfectly for backing up large-sized files. Very often disks supporting multiple data burning are used for backing up.

USB: a backup can be performed on any USB-compatible device (hard disk or flash drive). After connection such devices are easily recognized by computers and don't require any special burning software. Such data medium is rewritable and its capacity is measured in gigabytes.

So-called cloud backup: a backup is made by Internet provider services.

Magnetic tape: a backup is saved to a streamer magnetic tape (streamer is a device based on the tape recorder principle).

Zip-disks and floppy disks: a backup is saved to a portable data medium used for multiple data burning. It is suitable for storing middle-sized data backups. Today these methods are rarely used owning to their poor functionality.

Reasons for data loss

We need backing up to prevent data corruption or loss. What are the reasons for such data loss? What are the situations when backups become irreplaceable for data recovery?

There are various reasons for corruption and loss of data.

1. Hardware failure.

In this case there still is a chance to recover lost data though this chance is not big. One can turn to special services for help hoping they can solve this issue.

How can I avoid this? Try to have at least two copies of critical data with each of these copies being stored on a separate data medium. You can do it using either manual or automatic backing up (using specialized backup software or version control system). Also you can use RAID server ensuring recovery of the most recent information and providing the best protection against failures.

2. Natural disasters

Theft, storm, fire, earthquake… These are only few examples of possible natural disasters. There is no way you can protect either a backup or the original against damage in such situation. The only possible protection method is saving some backups in other buildings.

3. Human factor

It implies deletion of information done on purpose. Here are some tips how to prevent this:

a) set up rights for all resources so that other users will couldn't have access to your files. The only exception is the system administrator. He or she must have all rights in order to be able to fix any error that may occur.

b) make sure that backups are recent enough to recover your data in case it is damaged or lost.

c) regularly update your software that may cause data loss.

4. Malicious software

This category encompasses software created to delete and corrupt information. These are all kinds of computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, etc. Here are the steps of fighting against this factor:

- Install anti-virus programs

- Ensure centralized antivirus updates

- Create backups in the places there viruses can't get them (portable data carrier, dedicated server, etc.). One should store these backups as long as possible so that there always be a copy that has not been in contact with infected computer.

- If you copy data to the server make sure it is properly protected.

Recovery methods

Probably the only important question, bothering every user in case of important data lost or damage, is how to restore these data. It appears to be very uneasy, but still possible.

The method of data restoring is chosen depending on the failure type. And today there exist only 2 such methods: software and software-hardware restoring methods.

Software method

This method implies no physical interference to the device. It is implied in cases, where the drive isn't damaged, but somehow there's no access to data. There can be various reasons for this: from disks formatting to complete crash of all file system. In most of such cases the 90% of data could be restored, however there're also such cases, where the data restoring cannot be possible.

Let's describe in detail each reason why you can lose the access to your information:

1. System crash

In this case we can speak about crash of information placing algorithm and algorithm of its storage. The reasons for such crash can be malware or system operation failures. Very often the reason of such failure is also human factor.

What should I do? Restore the algorithm: you'll spend much time for that, however there isn't any guaranty that you'll restore 100% of the lost data.

2. Disk formatting

The data structure in this case is not disturbed. However, the algorithm of its further placing on this drive can be changed. In order to restore it, you'll have to look through all your files again and restore the algorithm of their placing and saving.

3. Changing of logical geometry

After its unsuccessful change, all attributes of your files will be saved, however you'll completely lose the access to the data and to the whole disk. Such malfunctioning can be related to the attempts to change the disk size without considering the peculiarities of placing files on it.

4. Deleting the data

Every time you delete some data, they do not disappear physically, but are not seen in the system any more. The place on the drive, where they are located, is defined as free: if you write new data on this place, this deed may be crucial for the data located there before. That's why sometimes these data cannot be restored. You can eliminate the deleted files traces using special programs, called "shredders".

Software and hardware method

This method of data restoring is required in case the drive has been physically damaged. Here you should pay special attention to the drive type, since the method of failure correction will depend on it.

Types of drives:

- Floppy disk. The main fault - demagnetizing. The data can be restored only from those parts of disk that haven't been demagnetized. Some malfunctions can be also connected with the drive physical damage (impurity, scratches etc.)

- Hard disk. This is the most capacious drive, but at the same time it's very vulnerable to different kinds of mechanical effects and damage. In case of data loss from such drive, you cannot solve the problem without a specialist, since you risk greatly to lose the important data irreversibly.

- Flash. In this type of drive the drive controller fault occurs more often. It can occur while connecting flash to the computer. In order to fix this fault, you should change the damaged controller or to read and compound all information from this drive chips.

- CD (DVD, BD). In case of this drive, there could be several reasons of malfunctioning: mechanical, chemical (in both cases the damage of transparent layer takes place) or data organization breach (because of write errors).

Backup conditions

No matter what backup technology you use, in order to facilitate this process every user should follow certain rules, which we'll try to describe in details. Fulfillment of 10 conditions mentioned below is highly requested, and even obligatory for new backup system organization or optimization of the existing one.

The first condition – preliminary planning.

Don't forget that while backup planning all the components, applications, servers and increasing of data capacity should be taken into account. If these factors are not considered, the backup system could fail. Planning could also help you to get the idea of all applications peculiarities and requirements from the data security point of view.

The second condition – life cycle and operations calendar.

If you want the backup operation is efficient, the system should successfully complete daily tasks. However, apart from the daily tasks there are also weekly, monthly and yearly tasks for the system, which have to be fulfilled if you want to be completely safe from losing important data. That's why, make sure your backup system completes these tasks in time by setting the appropriate operations calendar.

The third condition – daily review of the copying process.

The necessary task is to review the backup fulfillment and errors. Certainly, this takes much time and efforts; however you'll get reliably operating system as compensation. Since a single minor failure could cause a great number of troubles that, as you may think, are not related to each other.

The fourth condition – backup database security.

For further data recovery, every system application has its own database. If it's lost, all saved information will be lost subsequently. That's why you should have a mirror copy of this database or, at least, make sure from time to time that it's saved correctly.

The fifth condition – specifying the copying time slot.

If the tasks, you've set for the backup system, start to exceed the given time slot, this could be the sign that the system is coming to its capacity limits. If you've noticed this on time, you can avoid more serious failures.

The sixth condition – saving of "external" systems.

The program of system backup provides the reports only on servers known to it. In case of complex environment, it rarely has the "external" system, which isn't included in the backup scheme but nevertheless takes part in its operation. Such "external" system can operate for a long time under its own backup, but nevertheless there is a possibility of failure, which will lead to the data loss. The work with similar external system is labour- and time-consuming, so you should take care of its reliable operation beforehand.

The seventh condition – backup automation.

This function will help you to detect alarm signals, when the backup system has some errors. Although, automation can cause the reverse action – accumulate errors, you should properly specify the task and the result for the backup system. In this case the system automation can save you from exhausting work.

Remote backup

Remote data backup is also called network backup. Most of the companies, providing this service, appeared in 1990s. Remote backup is a service providing the system of data storage and backup for the user.

This system is built in the client's program that one time a day collects and cyphers the data and sends them to the server, provider of the backup service.

What are the features of such service?

First of all, it's multiplatform – such service copies data from different platforms (Windows, Linux, Macintosh).

The ability of the service to create open files backups (such as, e.g., Outlook files) is also worth mentioning. Thanks to that, the administrator can any time launch the backup process.

Remote backup also performs data encryption in order to avoid their interception. But this doesn't mean the data will be also stored encrypted.

Like any other system, the remote backup has advantages and drawbacks. In comparison with more familiar backup methods, the advantages of the remote one can be as follows:

1. One of the most important aspects: all copies are stored separately from the original.

2. Many backup services work constantly, continuously creating copies of the changed files.

3. Data storage in this case is unlimited.

4. Remote backup doesn't require any user's interference.

5. The list of all files versions is available.

6. If necessary, some services can decrease the backup duration and transfer to the server only those data that have been changed.

Apart from multiple advantages of the remote backup, it has some drawbacks:

1. Some providers of such backup service have a monthly limit that sometimes prevents from creating large backup copies.

2. You cannot restore the data, if you lose the password of coding.

3. Some services have no guaranties that your data will be stored confidentially. That's why you'd better encipher them before saving.

4. Network pass band can make the restoring process very slow. Since all data are stored separately, you can restore them using the Internet or a disk.

Apart from the remote backup, there's also such service as continuous data protection (also remote) on the market: backup copies are created automatically after any data change. Such procedure allows the administrator or the user to restore the data any time.

Continuous data protection

CDP (continuous data protection) is creating your data backup copies with the help of automatically data saving after every change made to that data.

This service allows either the user or the administrator to restore the data at any time. It controls these data changes in the different storage sections.

What's the difference between continuous data protection and traditional backup?

If you use CDP, you don't need to indicate a specific period of time, within which you want to restore your data. In this case, all backup copies will be automatically restored up to the moment, when the last backup copy was made. That means there is no schedule, according to which the copies are to be created: they are continuously protected. The data are constantly copied in two locations that creates additional load on the saving operations, but at the same time makes the backup schedule unnecessary.

The copies are saved to a disk and to other location, which is usually an additional computer over the network.

Volume

As for the volume of such backup, in comparison to other traditional operations, CDP will take less space on media. Most CDP backups save all changes as blocks, but not as separate files, while differential backup saves the complete file.