The data storage devices are so easy to use that they are increasingly being viewed as a backup option by most of the companies. It is important for a company to conduct an appropriate analysis before deciding their backup options. Data can be of different nature such as graphics, emails, or databases. In addition, data can have varying degrees of confidentiality. Therefore, companies will have to analyse their storage decisions based on the type of data as well as the degree of confidentiality of their data. One of the options that is fast emerging as a viable preference for data backups is a USB drive. A USB drive allows the backup hardware to run as a plug and play while the computer is running. USB is an interface between the user and add-on devices such as keyboards and printers.
A USB port allows you to install a new device onto your computer without shutting down your computer or adding any adapter card. This feature makes data storage and data backups on the USB drive an effortless task. Earlier, the USB sockets were not fast enough to make USB drives an exciting option. However, with the introduction of USB 2.0 specification, transfer speed of up to 480M bit/sec can be easily supported, transforming USB drive into an attractive option amongst the users. The storage space, portable nature, and relatively high speeds make a USB drive a far better alternative than other data backup media such as tapes and CDs. In addition, there is no need to install a new drive as you would have to if you were to burn CD-Rs or DVD-Rs for backing up data. There is no external power source required to plug a USB drive into your machine. Furthermore, you will not experience problems such as scratches or warping with USB drives as is common with CD-ROMS and DVD-ROMs. This minimizes the media handling and physical storage hassles.
USB drives are very cheap these days. A 500 GB USB drive costs far cheaper than a tape drive alternative because there is no additional media cost associated with a USB drive. Since the storage space of the USB is only increasing by the day, zipping your files before backing them up can store huge amounts of data onto a single USB drive. Due to these reasons, a USB drive is fast gaining popularity in the data backup market. A USB drive can be used to store applications such as operating system as well. Therefore, in the event of a system crash, operating system can be re-installed very easily with the help of a USB drive. As we have observed, a USB drive has many benefits attached to it. However, there are certain limitations that USB drives face as a backup option. We will analyse these limitations to understand the risks associated with backing up data on a USB drive.
Limitations of a USB Drive
Your data needs to be backed up effectively. Backups need to occur automatically to do away with any human error and to ensure that the backed up data is always up-to-date. By choosing a USB drive as a backup option, your backup systems will not be foolproof because employees can forget to back up their data on a daily basis, which can make your business very vulnerable to data loss disasters.
Typically, businesses use one USB drive to back up multiple computers because purchasing multiple USB drives can be expensive. Therefore, every computer gets backed up one by one. If a data loss incident occurs around this time, then all the data on the other computers will be completely lost. In addition, if you are using a single USB drive to back up your data, then you will never be able to store your data off-site. This is typical catch 22 situation that you would want to avoid because, if you have your backup media, then you do not have off-site data protection and, if you have off-site storage, then you do not have a backup media.
USB drives generally are not considered very secure because they are so compact in size and can be lost easily by people using them. Imagine losing a USB drive with your company's confidential data! Some vendors now offer encryption, which can offer protection against such human errors.
James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk
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