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.
Bear in mind though that most storage problems with optical media are attributable to issues with the initial burn of the disc. So it is essential that as soon as you have burned any media to any type of optical storage that you check it has copied over the data correctly.
Most cases of CD-R data degradation are the result of dyes and the disk's reflective surface. Improvements have been made with regard to reflective surfaces and dyes, but double-check the manufacturer's statements regarding longevity. If you need long-term digital storage, consider disks with a gold-based reflective surface. They'll be a better choice because they won't oxidize like disks with a silver-based reflective surface.
The DVD-R - The storage capacity of most DVD-Rs is 4.7GBs of data. It is, however, possible to obtain double-layer, double-sided DVD-R discs with up to 17.08GBs of storage capacity. Disc quality has a significant impact on longevity, but research has shown that the lifespan of DVD-Rs ranges from 2 to 15 years. According to the NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology), the duration of archival usability of DVD-R discs is much more variable than CD-R discs. So, if you don't need the DVD-R's larger capacity, the CD-R is probably the better option.
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.
Bear in mind though that most storage problems with optical media are attributable to issues with the initial burn of the disc. So it is essential that as soon as you have burned any media to any type of optical storage that you check it has copied over the data correctly.
Most cases of CD-R data degradation are the result of dyes and the disk's reflective surface. Improvements have been made with regard to reflective surfaces and dyes, but double-check the manufacturer's statements regarding longevity. If you need long-term digital storage, consider disks with a gold-based reflective surface. They'll be a better choice because they won't oxidize like disks with a silver-based reflective surface.
The DVD-R - The storage capacity of most DVD-Rs is 4.7GBs of data. It is, however, possible to obtain double-layer, double-sided DVD-R discs with up to 17.08GBs of storage capacity. Disc quality has a significant impact on longevity, but research has shown that the lifespan of DVD-Rs ranges from 2 to 15 years. According to the NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology), the duration of archival usability of DVD-R discs is much more variable than CD-R discs. So, if you don't need the DVD-R's larger capacity, the CD-R is probably the better option.
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:
CD Aces contributed information on blank CDs. 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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