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.
There are two main issues when it comes to choosing which optical media you'll use to archive your data: the storage capacity of your media must be large enough to serve its intended purpose (data needs have increased rapidly over time); and the optical media you use must be reliable and able to safely store your data throughout the time period you anticipate. Blu-Ray, DVD-R and CD-R are the three current optical media choices for digitally archiving your data.
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.
It's important to remember that problems with optical media are usually caused by issues related to burning the data onto the disk. As soon as you burn data onto an optical media disk, check to make sure the data has copied correctly.
The two main types of degradation that occur after the initial burn are because of the dyes and the reflective surface. Both of these have improved over the years, but you should still double check manufacturer claims as to life expectancy. For longer term data storage it is a good idea to look at gold-based reflective surfaces on your CD-Rs (as opposed to silver), because they do not suffer from oxidation.
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 Disc - A double-sided Blu-Ray disk can store up to 50GB of data; the single-sided type can handle as much as 25GB. Sales of Blu-Ray disks haven't been as extensive as initially predicted, probably due to faster and faster broadband speeds and the growth of online streaming. However, of the three types of optical media currently available, Blu-Ray disks offer the most extensive storage. Panasonic and Sony Blu-Ray (HTL) disks are the most reliable for backing up data, according to French testing. The same research indicated that Blu-Ray (LTH) disks should not be used for data backups.
All three of these optical media storage solutions are inexpensive and easy to use for data backup. They're portable, and they eliminate the need to be completely dependent on third-party backup services. That being said, there are uncertainties about their appropriateness for long-term data storage. Having a physical backup copy of your data on one of these three optical media formats should not be the only step you take. An online backup of your data (in addition to your optical media backup) would also be a smart choice to make.
There are two main issues when it comes to choosing which optical media you'll use to archive your data: the storage capacity of your media must be large enough to serve its intended purpose (data needs have increased rapidly over time); and the optical media you use must be reliable and able to safely store your data throughout the time period you anticipate. Blu-Ray, DVD-R and CD-R are the three current optical media choices for digitally archiving your data.
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.
It's important to remember that problems with optical media are usually caused by issues related to burning the data onto the disk. As soon as you burn data onto an optical media disk, check to make sure the data has copied correctly.
The two main types of degradation that occur after the initial burn are because of the dyes and the reflective surface. Both of these have improved over the years, but you should still double check manufacturer claims as to life expectancy. For longer term data storage it is a good idea to look at gold-based reflective surfaces on your CD-Rs (as opposed to silver), because they do not suffer from oxidation.
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 Disc - A double-sided Blu-Ray disk can store up to 50GB of data; the single-sided type can handle as much as 25GB. Sales of Blu-Ray disks haven't been as extensive as initially predicted, probably due to faster and faster broadband speeds and the growth of online streaming. However, of the three types of optical media currently available, Blu-Ray disks offer the most extensive storage. Panasonic and Sony Blu-Ray (HTL) disks are the most reliable for backing up data, according to French testing. The same research indicated that Blu-Ray (LTH) disks should not be used for data backups.
All three of these optical media storage solutions are inexpensive and easy to use for data backup. They're portable, and they eliminate the need to be completely dependent on third-party backup services. That being said, there are uncertainties about their appropriateness for long-term data storage. Having a physical backup copy of your data on one of these three optical media formats should not be the only step you take. An online backup of your data (in addition to your optical media backup) would also be a smart choice to make.
About the Author:
John Franks at CD Aces contributed information on businesses recording on CD. See CD Aces for more information. CD Aces has been in the CD and DVD business for over 15 years working with blank media, duplication, and replication.
