DATA BACKUP MEDIA
If your data is valuable, it is very important that you protect it.
Here is a list of common backup solutions and media.

Media Type	Capacity	Average cost for media and drive	Automated	Easy to keep generational backups
Compact Disks	700MB	less than 25 cents CD-RW drive is usually included with most PCs	NO	YES	PROS •Inexpensive •Easy to take offsite •Easy to keep generational backups CONS: •Limited to 700MB in size •Time comsuming manual procedure
DVD (Digital Versatile Disks)	4-8 GB	$1 DVD-RW drive is often included with higher-end PCs	NO	YES	PROS: •Inexpensive •Easy to take offsite •Easy to keep generational backups CONS: •Limited to 4-8GB in size •Time comsuming manual procedure
Internet based online backup	up to 5GB some are higher	$10-$100 monthly fee	YES	some	PROS •Automatic •Offsite CONS •Limited in size •Slow
External USB hard drives	up to 200GB - 400GB	$100-$200	YES	NO	PROS •Inexpensive •Large capacity CONS •Reliability (data is still store on deivce with moving parts) •Bulky to take offsite
Travan tapes	up to 20GB/40GB	$50 tape $300 tape drive	YES	YES	PROS •Least expensive tape solution •Automated •Easy to take offsite •Easy to keep generational backups CONS •Smallest capacity for tapes
DDS tapes, DDS2, DDS3, DDS4	up to 20GB/40GB	$10 - $15 tapes $500-$600 drives	YES	YES	PROS •Automated •Generational •Easy to take offsite •Larger capacity CONS •Expensive
DAT72 tapes	36GB/72GB	$20 each tape $800 tape drive	YES	YES	PROS •Automated •Generational •Easy to take offsite •Larger capacity CONS •Expensive
DLT (Digital Linear Tape)	up to 40GB/ 80BG	$60 each tape $1000 tape drive	YES	YES	PROS •Automated •Generational •Easy to take offsite •Larger capacity CONS •Expensive
LTO tape Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Ultrium	up to 100GB - 200GB	$100 each tape $1500+ tape drive	YES	YES	PROS •Automated •Generational •Easy to take offsite •Larger capacity CONS •Expensive

SUMMARY
Copying data to CD or DVD is the least expensive method, but it is limited in size and must be done manually and can take time.

Internet-based Online Backup solutions don't require any hardware or media and for a monthly fee offer a place to copy data on their servers. It is limited is size and can take a long time to transfer data, but the backup automated and is stored offsite automatically.

Copying data to an external USB disk drive is the least expensive way to copy large amounts of data. Although they can be taken offiste the are more buky. Also, decause they are mechanical in nature, they are subject to failures and fragile.

Tape drives are the best way to store large amounts of data, automatically at night, but the tapes must be swapped and taken offsite manually.