Where Do You Start With Backups?

When it comes to backing up your data there is no "one size fits all" solution. One of the goals of this blog is to help inform the reader of what types of solutions and philosophies are available.

I have used every type of solution from automated scripts which simply copy files, to automated offsite software that emails detailed status reports. While each of these solutions have their pros and cons it is more important that you understand some of the backup concepts and philosophies that must be considered to successfully implement an appropriate solution. I usually start with these simple questions:

• What type of data do you need to backup? Files, databases, etc.
• How long do you need to keep the backups for?
• What is your budget?

Where do you start?