Global Courant
Independent professionals, in the vast majority of cases, do not have an IT management that deals with computer security. Thus, a software mismatch or hardware failure can corrupt valuable information. To prevent errors, three key resources to make backup copies.
A home backup system, well implemented and frequently updated, can prevent the reputation of the freelancer from being damaged and there are no financial consequences to be regretted.
And although there is no definitive solution to safeguard the information, the dilemma is settled between external SSD disks, cloud and NAS (Network Attached Storage) server.
In the event that the machine suffers a ransomware attack -which locks all files- or a mechanical breakdown, any of these methods guarantees immediate recovery of all assets.
Backups: what is the ideal solution
The two best alternatives are SSD drives or online storage. Photo Kingston.
Analyzing the different ways to preserve personal data, a recent study by Western Digital, together with the consultancy Ipsos, discovered that 8 out of 10 Argentines make frequent backup copies.
Beyond the percentages, it does not cease to attract attention that 7 out of 10 consulted. they are more concerned about losing their files than about any material object. For this reason, 93% have some physical device or online storage solution.
53% use the free cloud, while 40% opt for external disks or flash drives. There are 58% who prefer to make a backup in a combination between physical and online.
For the Argentines surveyed, the main advantages of using physical devices is that they can access their files when they need it (60%), they better manage privacy (54%) and they do not depend on an internet connection (48%).
external SSD drive
Kingston XS2000. The super fast and light little 1TB drive. $32,300.
For some professions, such as photographers, content creators, web designers, and even gamers, external SSDs have become a work tool that constantly stores the generated content.
Its advantage is that it achieves read and write times of up to 20 Gbit/s, speeding up transfer and upload times. Which implies that for 100 GB it takes about 5 minutes to go from the computer to the disk.
This is the main advantage they have over the cloud, since uploading materials online is done at the top (web services have little upload power) and to check the copies, it is necessary to be connected to the Internet.
To speed up the transfer of files, these external drives use the most advanced connectors. USB-C achieves higher transfer speeds, charges peripheral devices faster, and thus became the leading connector to use USB 3.2 Gen 2.
These SSD drives are supported by NAND-based flash memories, which, as they are also non-volatile, maintain the stored information when the drive is disconnected.
They do not have physical heads to record the data, instead they include an integrated processor to perform operations related to reading and writing data.
One of the most efficient is the Kingston XS2000, a USB-C stick with the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, with read and write speeds of 2,000 MB/s, which is the same as an NMVe from two years ago.
Its aluminum casing is covered by a removable rubber cover, which allows it to withstand possible damage when transporting it and reduces the impact of falls or bumps.
The joints between these two elements are made internally without the presence of screws. This internal sealing gives it an IP55 rating to repel dust and water.
To facilitate the storage of large files, it uses the exFAT file format, since it includes a check of the integrity of the disk structure, which offers greater resistance to possible errors.
Its form factor and weight (less than 30 grams) make it suitable for carrying in a pocket. It has a capacity of 1TB (there is a 4TB version). With 5 years warranty. It costs 32,300 pesos.
Cloud
Online storage services are now paid.
Online storage providers offer, on average, about 5 GB for free. The only one that reaches 15GB is Google. By setting the limit so low, this amount works as a free trial. The minimum is 50 GB.
The biggest attraction of this service is that people can access the data from anywhere in the world and with any device. As long as there is an internet connection.
Doing the math, the cost per GB is less than an external drive. This is because you are not buying the hardware and you are not responsible for maintenance and upkeep either.
The monthly estimate is about 1,500 pesos, which in a year totals about 18,000 pesos. To amortize the SSD disk it takes about 21 months.
Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive are the most popular. And although they focus on the same service, the approach is radically different. The main differences between the two are:
The model that Microsoft is aiming for is that of the small company, while Google, with its foot in the land of Android, seeks to center itself on the mobile consumer.
Google’s cloud, focused on the company’s ecosystem of applications, can be used without an Internet connection and share files through a link.
The monthly cost for the basic plan is $4.20 for 30 GB of storage. The next level rises to 9.60 and the cap. $18, with 5TB.
OneDrive’s forte is integration with Office 365 programs and with Windows. which allows a permanent synchronization before any modification.
Of all the providers, it has the lowest price. For 100 GB the cost is 229 pesos per month or 2,289 pesos per year. While 1TB, has a value of 6,799 pesos per year.
NAS server
NAS
Halfway between the cloud and external drives are NAS servers. They can be assigned as a media center, photo copy drive, centralized data storage server for the office, or a personal cloud.
A NAS is a computer that includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), giving it computer intelligence to manage profiles, run applications, write, manage, and process files.
Some domestic models already come with the discs inside, although there are others that do not. The system does not have a great configuration complexity, it is enough to be connected to the web service that of the machines or cell phones.
It is a more expensive and complete device than an SSD, so when investing in a NAS, the long-term investment must be considered to estimate how much storage is required, the size of the disks and the speed of the hardware.
The Western Digital My Cloud Ex2 Ultra Diskless features a 1.3GHz dual-core Marvell ARMADA 385 processor with 1GB of DDR3 memory for multitasking.
It incorporates the WD SmartWare Pro software, to make backup copies of Windows. On the Mac line they have full access to Apple Time Machine to make a personalized copy.
Featuring two 3.5-inch HDD bays, hot swappable, trayless design, and 2 USB 3.0 ports. Discs are sold separately. It is 260 thousand pesos.
SL
