Data loss is a problem that affects thousands of people and businesses each year. Since data loss events are difficult to predict and prepare for, the best defence against losing critical information is to regularly back up your files and store them off-site so that they are less vulnerable to events that can cause data loss such as power surges and natural disasters.

There are a number of different external backup solutions available and we'll look at the advantages and disadvantages of each method. 

Online backup options

Online data backup solutions allow you to store your data with an online data storage service. Some online service providers will store your data for as long as you maintain your subscription and provide backup management services. These services assist you with the initial configuration, provide continuous monitoring, issue failure alerts if there is any problem with your data and can aid you in data restoration and recovery.

The biggest advantage of online data recovery is that it is automatic. Your files are backed up continuously or on a regular schedule. You don't have to worry about forgetting to back up your files, it's all done for you.

Another advantage is that the data is stored in a remote location, and is therefore less vulnerable to whatever causes your initial data loss. You can also store an unlimited amount of data including multiple versions of the same file.

Finally, online data backup services use data encryption to keep your files safe from hackers or employees of the data storage company.

CD or DVD-RW disks

Another option for backing up your data is the CD-RW or DVD-RW disks. These disks can store up to 700MB per unit.

The main advantage of using disks to back up your files is the cost. It's extremely cheap at a cost of roughly $1 per disk. The disks are relatively durable and can easily be stored off-site.

The major disadvantage of CD or DVD-RW disks is their lack of storage capacity compared to other media. While saving your data to disks may be a good solution for personal computer users to save a relatively small amount of data, they would be  inadequate for people with a lot of data to store as well as most small business users.

For this reason, CD or DVD-RW disks tend to be a less common choice for most people.

Flash Drives

USB Flash drives are small data storage devices that you plug into your computer. Flash drives can store as much as 64GB of information. The biggest advantage of flash drives is their portability. The drives are small and light enough to attach to a key chain and are durable enough to withstand conditions that other external hard drives cannot.

Flash drives are relatively inexpensive and are supported by most operating systems. You can store an image of your hard disk drive to your flash drive and retrieve any information necessary. Flash drives are very convenient and easy to use with nearly any type of computer.

The main disadvantage is their storage capacity which, while substantial, is relatively small compared to other storage media. Also, their small physical size makes them easy to misplace and they can be easily stolen.

External hard drives

External hard drives are drives that you purchase separately from your computer and attach via USB port. External drives can serve all the same functions as your computer's internal drive.

External hard drives have many of the same advantages as flash drives, with the main difference being that external hard drives have greater data storage capacity. If you have large amounts of personal data to back up or if you run a small business, an external hard drive is likely a better backup solution than a flash drive.

Portability is still an advantage of external drives, although they are a little more cumbersome to transport than a flash drive. In some cases, you may be able to simply replace your computer's internal drive with your external drive in case of an internal hard drive failure.

The main disadvantage of external hard drives is that they are small enough that they can still be relatively easily lost or stolen. Also, they are subject to the same problems that can cause internal drive failure so if you are not careful to store the drives off-site, you may lose both your internal and external drives to a power outage, fire, or other disaster.

There is no "perfect" data backup option that will work optimally for everyone. The key to finding the best solution for you is to analyze your data storage needs and choose the option that best suits your purposes.