Backup Software Features
There are several features to consider when choosing a backup software solution. Let's discuss some of the important ones below.
Backup Types
All backup software will allow you to perform full (or normal) backups. When performing a full backup, all selected files and folders will be backed up. It is required to do a full backup before performing an incremental backup. An incremental backup is a quick way to just backup files that have changed since the previous backup.
Some of the more advanced backup software will perform what's called block level backups which will only backup changed pieces of a file, rather than the entire file which can make the backup process significantly faster.
Your backup software should also allow you to run automatic scheduled backups, as well as perform backups manually.
Disaster Recovery (DR) is another advanced feature of some backup software. You can essentially backup the entire contents of your computer including Windows, applications and their settings and all other data to a an image file or clone drive. As you work, all changed files will make their way to DR backup keeping it up to date.
This backup will allow you to restore your computer to a previously working state without having to reinstall the operating system and all your programs and files. With some Windows backup software you are able to create a bootable drive allowing you to get back to work quickly after a hard drive crash or corruption of the operating system.
Media Spanning / Voluming
It's handy if your backup software supports media spanning. This allows you to put portions of your backup on two or more discs or drives. This is good if you don't have large backup drives or if you want to backup to CD, DVD or BluRay so you can take the backup offsite in case of fire, etc. Also, if your software supports stand alone restores, meaning you can restore a backup without the need for the backup software to be running, you probably want to create the backup to CD, DVD or BluRay, in which case spanning will probably be necessary.
Smart Data Backup
Some backup software can detect applications on your computer and know the location of the data files for that application. It may also be able to backup application data and settings for each Windows user individually.
Common applications which you may want data and settings backed up for include: Windows Mail, Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft Office, Windows Address Book, web browser favorites or bookmarks, Windows Registry, etc.
Backup Media
A lot of backup applications are flexible on where they let you back your data up to. You want to be able to backup to a secondary hard drive as a minimum. You may also want to backup to external Firewire or USB drives, SCSI, IDE, SATA, Tape, online via FTP, a drive over the network, CD, DVD, BluRay, Iomega REV and more.
Operating System Support
Be sure that your software supports the version of Windows that you are using. Some software will support all versions of Windows from Windows 98, to Windows XP, to Windows Vista to Windows 7, including the 32 and 64 bit platforms of the newer versions of Windows.
Continuous Data Protection
Advanced backup software has support for continuous data protection which backups files immediately (or close to it) after being edited. Plus it will save each version of the file which will allow you to revert back to any point in time.
Other Features
Look for some level of support for compressed and encrypted backups. It's also nice if your backup software will backup locked (or open) files.
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