Free backup software
Free backup solutions for your computer data are available on the Web. But what are they really worth? Are they sufficient for a company with a large number of files to process? Here's some information to give you a clearer idea of what free backup software has to offer!
Practical features available free of charge
If you take the example of backup software such as Iperius or Ultrabackup, you'll be able to take advantage of some basic features to get you started in backing up your company's computer data. Here are just a few of the functions offered by these free programs:
- ZIP compression: to reduce the amount of storage space needed to keep your information complete, data compression is a good way of ensuring that your files take up less space.
- Incremental backup : This is a backup of the latest files modified since the last incremental backup. It selects only certain files and does not copy all your data. You can then select the files you wish to back up.
- Differential backup: This only selects files modified since the last full backup. Unlike incremental backup, it guarantees greater reliability, as it is always based on the backup of all your data.
- Automatic backup: You don't have to worry about making your own backups - they're launched automatically at the time you specify in the settings offered by the backup software.
- Windows compatibility. It has to be said that most businesses run on the Windows operating system.
Features you may soon be missing
That's right! As you can imagine, what' s free is rarely complete. You're likely to quickly feel the limitations of free backup software. Here are just a few of the features that might be available in the paid versions and that you might find useful:
- File synchronization
- Disk imaging
- Backup to tape (from your server)
- Online backup (cloud)
- Complete database backup
- Encryption of your data for optimum security.
An article dedicated to professional backup software will give you details of the features available in the paid versions.
The advantages of choosing free backup software
Of course, the main advantage is the price, since this version is totally free. There's also the advantage of being able to test a version of the software for longer than the one-month trial period, which can then be extended by opting for the paid version.
The disadvantages
Unfortunately, the free version of a data backup software may soon seem too limited. It's ideal for self-employed entrepreneurs or contractors working alone. But if you work with several colleagues, or have an extensive network, you won't be able to get the most out of free backup software. The limited functionality is likely to get in the way and end up frustrating you. They're not really designed to meet the needs of even the smallest businesses. It's better to invest a little in a subscription to benefit from more extensive functionalities, but also to guarantee the security of your information.
The free backup software available is aimed more at home users. In fact, with limited functionality, a company is likely to quickly see the limits of this type of software, and will want to switch to the paid version of backup software. With a one-month free trial, you can take the time to test the various functions of automatic backup software with subscription. This will give you an idea of the real capabilities of an advanced software solution.
Article translated from French