FileVault vs. Traditional Backup Methods
With FileVault there's no expensive hardware or external media to purchase or maintain. Your files are always available to you from your computer or any computer with an Internet connection.
Compare the ease of FileVault with these traditional backup storage methods:
Writeable CD-ROM DrivesWriteable CD-ROM Drives are often already installed on your computer. If your CD-ROM drive isn’t writable, then you’ll need to purchase one for roughly $150.
Advantages: moderate speed, data storage of up to 700 MB; media cost of $.50/per disk.
Disadvantages: large backups require problematic spanning of multiple CD-ROM disks; backup disks can be scratched or damaged; manual backups are time consuming and cumbersome; effective backups require media rotation; backup disks are often stored onsite; disks must be physically moved for offsite backup.
Writable DVD DrivesWritable DVD Drives are often included on new computers these days. If you need to add one to your computer the drive will cost around $300.
Advantages: DVD’s hold more backup data, and transfer data faster than CD-ROM’s; media cost of roughly $1.00 per disk.
Disadvantages: manual backups are time consuming and cumbersome; effective backups require media rotation; backup disks are often stored onsite; disks must be physically moved for offsite backup.
Zip DrivesZip Drives can be installed as an external accessory to your computer for around $120.
Advantages: Faster that a DVD and holds even more data.
Disadvantages: more expensive media cost of roughly $5.00 to $10.00 per disk; still a cumbersome manual backup solution; effective backups require media rotation; backup disks are often stored onsite; disks must be physically moved for offsite backup.
Tape DrivesTape Drives are the most common backup solution for many large companies. Good tape backup drives often come with backup software and cost roughly $1,000 to $3,000.
Advantages: tapes can hold very large amounts of data and they are fast.
Disadvantages: more expensive media cost of roughly $5.00 to $10.00 per tape; the backup process is often automated but requires a sophisticated user to setup; media rotation is still required; backup tapes are often stored onsite; tapes must be physically moved for offsite backup.
External Hard DrivesExternal Hard Drives are simple to setup and cost around $500.
Advantages: fast; no media to buy, label, and rotate.
Disadvantages: fixed and onsite; will be destroyed with your data in the event of a natural disaster or fire.
Offsite BackupOffsite Backup requires no hardware or software to install or buy.
Advantages: fully automated process requiring little to no employee time to setup and manage; instant anytime anywhere access to backups; data automatically stored offsite; no media to buy; no media to label and rotate.
Disadvantages: slow transfer, but it is handled automatically behind the scenes and often in the evenings.
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