Acronis True Image? Syncback SE? Cobian backup?

[568overclocked]

We have a startup business where sensitive data backup is critical. So far, I have been manually zipping all the data files and burning to CDR and copying the zip file to another computer on the network. I'm looking for alternatives now that would help in the process. The data we have to backup is currently about 400mb. But each day, we add to the growing database file and to the word/excel documents folder. Storage of the these files are primarily in 3 folders. I'm planning on purchasing this week a 500gb external HD and also a DVD recorder. I was planning on doing daily backup of the database and then weekly on the documents and database on the external HD and another computer on the network. Then using CD/DVD recordables biweekly to take off site. Does this setup sound like a good start? What program would best keep our database and documents on a backup. We currently have 2 desktops and 1 laptop in the office but only 1 desktop holds all the key data. Any suggestions?

 

[Skeeedunt]

Sounds like a pretty good setup to me. I wouldn't use a disk imaging program, especially with just a few files. One of the other two should work, but I haven't used them personally. Someone else may have a suggestion (I just use rsync ).

I'd also recommend encrypting your backups using Windows EFS (don't forget to backup your key), TrueCrypt, or something similar.

 

[Pirotech]

take a look at true image workstation version, i think it would be the best choice.

 

[Art Vandaleigh]

I've used true image at work and home, it is actually a great program for imaging and backups. Very fast, good compression and easy to use, especially when loading an image from scratch.

 

[568overclocked]

i was reading more about acronis true image and from what i can tell, it seems more suited to those that want to restore a desktop image for a full system restore. i'm looking to basically sync/backup 1 computer's data folders to another computer on the network and also to an external hd. Then as a off site option, using CD/DVD recordables. So far Syncback SE looks like it's more suited to that but would like to continue to hear opinions before i make the purchase.

 

[568overclocked]

so i got the external hd and dvd recorder. still doing manual backups but here is what i'm trying to get accomplished

DAILY BASIS : Monday - Friday after 5:30pm
- backup database only to external hd and network computer - create directory based on date and copy files to the diretory
ex. 030107 directory, 030207 directory, etc.

REASONING: in case of mistake on the database, they can go back to a specific date and start from there



WEEKLY : friday after 5:30pm
- sync database and documents to external hd and network computer

REASONING: to have an exact duplicate of the work done for the week

- burn mon-fri databases and documents to cd/dvd for off site backup

REASONING: move data off site for protection

- incremental backup of computer to external hd

REASONING: just in case of computer crash, can be up and running in minutes



MONTHLY : last business day of the month after 5:30pm
- refresh image on external hd

REASONING: to keep image current and not have several incremental backup files


can any software do pretty much all this automatically. I'm more specifically looking for software that can run the daily routine as I don't want to be at the office every day just to do the daily backup as described. Please help. Any ideas for software or a better backup plan

 

[SoulAssassin]

Few hundred megs? Why not automatically sftp (or otherwise securely copy) it to your home machine or elsewhere nightly? This can be scripted very easily. This way your data is offsite already and there's no 'oh crap the office is on fire and the backup is sitting on top of the computer'. Take the external drive home and from time to time back it up on DVD directly from the machine holding the data in the office. On a 384kb connection out of the office it would only take +-3 hours to do a full and you wouldn't have to do that everynight. Even assuming it doubles or triples in size you could easily do a full backup overnight on a Saturday or Sunday and during the week just backup changed files over the WAN.

 

[568overclocked]

the issue of security of the data is very important. there is sensitive data that is in the database. We even use a modem to transfer information to the main server. So FTPing the data for backup is not something I am thinking of doing at this time.

 

[568overclocked]

up

 

[Chunkee]

robocopy

or ntbackup

they are free

jC

 

[Homerboy]

buy a tape drive and save yourself some headache
for the HD to HD copying robocopy or ntbackup as Chunkee pointed our are fine and free. I like HandyBackup (does S/FTP too which is what I use it for at home).
If the data is that sensitive that you don't even want it touching the internet, yet you are toating it around on CDs/DVDs and external USB drives? Common... thats kinda backwards isn't it? If it truly is THAT sensitive get some desktop encryption such as PGP and encrypt the HDDs and ANYTHING burned to the removable media.


Did I mention getting tape drive?

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: 568overclocked
the issue of security of the data is very important. there is sensitive data that is in the database. We even use a modem to transfer information to the main server. So FTPing the data for backup is not something I am thinking of doing at this time.

http://winscp.net/eng/docs/introduction

WinSCP is an open source free SFTP client for Windows using SSH. Legacy SCP protocol is also supported. Its main function is safe copying of files between a local and a remote computer.