Tape Backups
A tape backup drive coupled with tape cartridges was once the standard in data backup solutions, and this method remains one of the most popular choices today. As with other media, backups can be scheduled regularly; typically, a business will use two or three tapes, taking the latest backup out each morning and replacing the tape with a cartridge that contains an older backup.
Pros: Very solid, reliable technology, enabling easy off-site backups of large amounts (10 GB+) of data. Good storage medium for a permanent record of the data.
Cons: Backup speed can be slow; it's not uncommon for a business to outgrow its current solution, which means that a new solution and tapes must be purchased. Some drives are quite fast, but their price is also quite high compared to other solutions such as a firewire hard drive. Older tapes cannot always be read in new drives, which can create a serious problem if the original drive has been destroyed or stolen.
Cost: Prices range widely depending on the speed and the amount of data that can be backed up.
