With an increasing number of backup solutions available, I’d like ask a question. Why are so many people reluctant to backup their data?

I see this problem all the time. Even in corporate environments, where backup is pretty much mandated, people are reluctant to use the solutions. Some go out of their way to avoid mandated solutions. But really, how many of us have been bitten over the years about losing data because our system crashed?

The bottom line is there is almost no excuse for not backing up ones data on a fairly regular basis. Having said that, I’d like to actually list some cool ideas and why I wouldn’t rely on them.

1. Apple’s Time Machine: is really a pretty cool solution, for the most part. If you’ve never tried it, and own a Mac, you should. Having said that, the problem really isn’t in using it the first time. It’s the 2nd time and after that. About the best thing Time Machine is good for is when it comes to restoration of a Mac. It will capture and restore every little thing including cookies, passwords, etc. You don’t have to worry about re-installing all of your applications either.

   The reason I say it’s not so great the 2nd time is that depending on how much you actually have to backup, the time required to determine what has changed can be quite long. While the actual backup part can be quite fast, it’s this generation of a list that can be intolerable. I suppose it’s a small price to pay for the ability to restore everything so easily.

2. Dropbox: is currently a pretty hot item in the reviews. It’s a pure software widget that allows you to upload all of your files, share them with others and it’s dead simple to install and use. The service is also pretty cheap at just $9.99 per month for 50GB.

   The problem with the Dropbox solution is time. You have to have lots and lots of time depending on the speed of your internet access and how much data you really wish to backup online. If you are with a cable provider, you may not think twice about uploads. However, if you’re in select areas where AT&T DSL is your only option, you may be in deep kimchee. This has certainly been the case for several friends of mine who only have 384kbps upload capabilities. In this scenario, backing up 50GB of data can take almost a week.

   Even if upload speeds aren’t a problem, you may find a problem when it comes to restoration of your computer from an online backup. Imagine downloading your apps, data, settings, etc. just so you can get back to functional.

3. Then there are the hybrid solutions, which place a locally installed appliance to help mediate this whole process and to provide local restoration capabilities. The trade off with this approach is cost of the service and management of some extra hardware.

   So far, while I believe this is one of the best approaches, the key question in my mind is whether or not this is worth a premium monthly service. Just to illustrate the differences in prices, let’s compare the Dropbox service with service from someone like Barracuda Networks. If we take a look at the costs for backing up 50GB of storage, we’re looking at a tenfold difference– $0.20/GB to $2.00/GB.

   Some will argue that the additional costs are to subsidize the hardware that is deployed. And that may indeed be a fair argument for some. But I know in the case of Barracuda, they charge for their appliances. Even at a reduced rate, they’re by no means losing money. Still, despite the costs, they are clearly selling their offerings to corporate accounts.

So with these types of solutions, is backing up still just too much of a pain in the butt for you? Do any of these sound at all attractive?

I fundamentally believe that there is no real reason not to protect all of your data. But for whatever reason, backup is just not a very interesting application. Perhaps we don’t backup simply because in a disconnected world of laptops usage, there’s not enough to remind us to do such a simple task.

I love this latest Boost Mobile commercial with the man-baby. It’s absolutely hilarious… but wrong. Way wrong, LOL!

A friend of mine, Sal, forwarded this to me last week. It’s actually entertaining, I suppose. But it’s a good indication of what happens when storage guys think a LOT about what they do.

It reminds me of when I did NetAttach and we actually had serious discussions about having Calista Flockhart do an ad for us. You all remember Ally McBeal, right?

Enjoy!

Driving around town, it’s not uncommon to finds that mimic popular slogans such as “Got Jesus”. Sometimes they seem kind of cute or clever. But after I consider them a bit, I’m left feeling unsettled as opposed to humored. The reason for this is simple. The church is not intended to identify with the world. We’re not to associate, market, etc. The church is to be the pillar and ground for the truth.

Consider this sign. “I Kissed a Girl” is a popular song by Katie Perry.

While it might seem right to preach against homosexual behavior and to denounce the lesbian lifestyle, the church errs when it takes the low road and takes to identifying with the world’s methods. Where does it all end?

You see, the problem is that rather than trying to elevate the word of God and to teach it, churches today believe they must reach down to people. Hence they continue to lower their standards. But if our churches continue to lower their standards, where will Christians be helped? And if Christians fail to receive proper training, where will people hear truth? It all becomes a slippery slope.

We need to get back to focusing on what is truthful, not chasing every little rabbit we come across. These things are merely diversion tactics, which take away from what is truly important.