Media Disc Backups
There are 3 things required for when wanting to use DVD media discs as a source for a data backup. They are the DVD burner hardware drives, blank media discs and software to allow the data write process to take place.
Over the years prices for DVD Burners have dropped dramatically and with faster write speeds to disc then have become more popular to use. With blank DVD discs it becomes more complicated as different manufactures try to compete in a demanding marketing, so complicated that we could write a book on the subject itself.
The software used for the disc write process is usually referred simply as Burning Software. There are lots of different developers for DVD Burning software such as Ahead Nero, Roxio etc. Prices will vary for different software programs as will the options available in each application.
So What Is The Problem With Using CD Or DVD Backups?
With DVD’s there is a process that is required for someone to create data backups onto the disc. This process not only needs to be done manually & daily by a member of staff but it also requires safe keeping of the backup discs, having an employee take discs home at night is a huge business risk!
Lack of Encryption
The more popular burning software applications used for a data backup solution have no method of encryption; data is written to the disc directly and can be accessed by anyone who has access to the disc. You need to ensure the data is encrypted before it get burned to disc but you also need to consider how can the data be unencrypted when restored back onto a system?
Media Discs Are Too Unreliable
Media discs don’t last as long as it was first believed when the new technology appeared on the marketed. Testing showed that CD’s don’t have much of a life span and DVD’s are likely to follow. Too many factors are involved that could leave a disc corrupt with one being exposed to direct sunlight, the things people never think about.
Learn From The Past
Over the past couple of years major blunders have happened with data backup discs being lost and that contained highly sensitive information. It has already occurred a number of times and was such example was Government departments in the U.K. who have lost thousands of UK resident’s data.
If you use CD’s or DVD’s as part of your business data backup solution we highly suggest that you consider changing to a solution that is more reliable and less time consuming. It would be a very smart business move on your part.