Managing information on computers (Part 3)
Backing up your work
You should perform regular backups. A backup is a copy of your work. It lets you restore your work if something happens to the original copy.
Local backup
A local backup is stored on the same computer or on a different computer or storage device that’s located on the same site, eg the school grounds. They are useful because recovery is quick.
Remote backup
For really important data it’s advisable to have a remote backup. This is stored off site. If the computer is damaged or the site itself is subject to a flood or fire, the backup is safe.
Backup in organisations
Computers in large organisations, like businesses and schools, are networked. Each computer is used by many different people and all of their work is saved to a server. Server backups are often performed daily and are usually automated. Specialist technicians are responsible for networks and servers.
Backups are extremely important for large organisations. Imagine if a business lost all of its customers’ details or if a school lost all of its students’ work.
Backup at home
Your home computer is unlikely to be a part of a network with a dedicated server and automated backup system. You’ll need to back up your own data manually. It can be backed up to:
- a USB memory stick (or flash drive)
- writable or rewritable CDs and DVDs
- external hard drives
- online or cloud-based services
Some people use a combination of the above depending on how important they think their data is.