Backup is a word that has become synonymous with online solutions. Having a physical copy of your data in the form of optical media is a wise decision: it DE-centralizes the data and means that access to it is not dependent on your computer, it removes dependence on third-party backup services, and it establishes a means by which data can be independently transferred to a third party.
Two main considerations will influence your choice of which type of optical media you'll use for creating a backup of your data. First, because data storage needs have rapidly increased, you'll need to make sure you choose the media that has the storage capacity you need. Second, the media you use must be safe and dependable, allowing you to access your data for the length of time you anticipate. The current choices for creating digital archives on optical media are DVD-R, CD-R and Blu-Ray disks.
CD-R - Most CD-Rs allow you to store up to 700mb of data. The specifications for CD-R disks came out in 1988, but the price of recorders exceeded $1000 until 1995 (when the 4020i by Philips came out). Today, almost every computer comes with a built-in CD-R recorder. Based on research by J Perdereau, the average longevity of CD-R disks is about 10 years, putting to rest fears about data degrading.
The fact that most storage problems encountered with optical media result from issues connected with the initial burning of the disc is something to always bear in mind. That's why it's so important to immediately verify the data on any newly burned optical media disk.
The two main types of degradation that occur after the initial burn are because of the dyes and the reflective surface. Both of these have improved over the years, but you should still double check manufacturer claims as to life expectancy. For longer term data storage it is a good idea to look at gold-based reflective surfaces on your CD-Rs (as opposed to silver), because they do not suffer from oxidation.
DVD-R - Most DVD-R disks are capable of storing up to 4.7GBs, but the double-layer, double-sided variety can handle up to 17.08GB of data. Although quality has a tremendous effect on disk lifespan, testing indicates that DVD-Rs will last between 2 and 15 years. The variability in DVD-R archival lifespan is greater than what is seen with CD-R disks, according to tests runs by NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology). A CD-R is probably a better choice for backing up your data unless you need the larger storage capacity of a DVD-R.
Blu-Ray - A normal single layer Blu-Ray Disc holds 25GB of data, while a double-sided one holds 50GB. Commercially Blu-Ray has not caught on as much as was earlier predicted, largely due to the quick growth of broadband speeds and the rise of online streaming in the United States. But as an archival format it offers the greatest capacity of any of the current mainstream optical media solutions. In one French Study into its longevity it was concluded that Blu-Ray (HTL) discs produced by Panasonic and Sony offered the greatest reliability for archiving, and that Blu-Ray (LTH) discs should be avoided for this purpose.
These storage solutions are cheap and they all provide an easy mechanism to create a digital archive of your data. Each type of disk is portable and reduces your reliance on a third-party archiving service. There are, however, some questions about long-term data storage using optical media. That's why I recommend having an online digital backup service in place as well as creating a physical digital archive of your data on one of these three types of optical media disks.
Two main considerations will influence your choice of which type of optical media you'll use for creating a backup of your data. First, because data storage needs have rapidly increased, you'll need to make sure you choose the media that has the storage capacity you need. Second, the media you use must be safe and dependable, allowing you to access your data for the length of time you anticipate. The current choices for creating digital archives on optical media are DVD-R, CD-R and Blu-Ray disks.
CD-R - Most CD-Rs allow you to store up to 700mb of data. The specifications for CD-R disks came out in 1988, but the price of recorders exceeded $1000 until 1995 (when the 4020i by Philips came out). Today, almost every computer comes with a built-in CD-R recorder. Based on research by J Perdereau, the average longevity of CD-R disks is about 10 years, putting to rest fears about data degrading.
The fact that most storage problems encountered with optical media result from issues connected with the initial burning of the disc is something to always bear in mind. That's why it's so important to immediately verify the data on any newly burned optical media disk.
The two main types of degradation that occur after the initial burn are because of the dyes and the reflective surface. Both of these have improved over the years, but you should still double check manufacturer claims as to life expectancy. For longer term data storage it is a good idea to look at gold-based reflective surfaces on your CD-Rs (as opposed to silver), because they do not suffer from oxidation.
DVD-R - Most DVD-R disks are capable of storing up to 4.7GBs, but the double-layer, double-sided variety can handle up to 17.08GB of data. Although quality has a tremendous effect on disk lifespan, testing indicates that DVD-Rs will last between 2 and 15 years. The variability in DVD-R archival lifespan is greater than what is seen with CD-R disks, according to tests runs by NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology). A CD-R is probably a better choice for backing up your data unless you need the larger storage capacity of a DVD-R.
Blu-Ray - A normal single layer Blu-Ray Disc holds 25GB of data, while a double-sided one holds 50GB. Commercially Blu-Ray has not caught on as much as was earlier predicted, largely due to the quick growth of broadband speeds and the rise of online streaming in the United States. But as an archival format it offers the greatest capacity of any of the current mainstream optical media solutions. In one French Study into its longevity it was concluded that Blu-Ray (HTL) discs produced by Panasonic and Sony offered the greatest reliability for archiving, and that Blu-Ray (LTH) discs should be avoided for this purpose.
These storage solutions are cheap and they all provide an easy mechanism to create a digital archive of your data. Each type of disk is portable and reduces your reliance on a third-party archiving service. There are, however, some questions about long-term data storage using optical media. That's why I recommend having an online digital backup service in place as well as creating a physical digital archive of your data on one of these three types of optical media disks.
About the Author:
See http://www.cdaces.com/cdr-for-business.html for more information. CD Aces has been in the CD and DVD business for over 15 years working with blank media, duplication, and replication.
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