Storage Devices

Storage technology changes rapidly, so it is important to research the merits of various media before you decide. When selecting a storage device, consider drive and media costs, as well as reliability and capacity.

The most common type of storage medium for backup is a removable media backup device (4mm DAT, Digital Storage Tape Drive, JAZ Drive, or similar high-capacity backup device). You can also store backups on another hard drive or network drive. However, off-site storage helps protect your data in the event of a disaster.

An ideal storage device has sufficient capacity to back up the entire database and can also detect and correct errors during backup and restore operations. It is important to consider future demands when determining media size requirements.

Be sure to purchase enough media units to implement your backup plan for one year. For example, if you are using a tape backup method, you should consider how many tapes you need over the course of a year and then purchase as many tapes as possible up front. You should also replace worn tapes per the manufacturer’s recommendation. Failing to purchase enough media to implement your backup plan can potentially limit its effectiveness.

Consider the bus and media speed. Depending on the amount of data you need to back up, you may require a faster device.