Backup software:

A number of Backup software are available that assist you in taking backup of your important data on the computer. Selecting between various back-up software is not only a based on the cost but also on the software that meeting the requirements.   A backup software could allow automated scheduling of backup in addition to just creating copy of files. The software should be easy to install and maintain. It should be intuitive and easy to use. The restoring from the back-up should be simple. Accessing restored data should be automatic, and the backup should preserve original data files and paths. A backup software that can compress data helps in storing data in lesser space. Certain software also allows securing the backed-up data with passwords and encryption. Good documentation and technical support goes a long way in ensuring help is available when needed.   

Backup could be taken on variety of media including hard drive, CDs, DVDs, floppy disks etc. It could also be taken on FTP locations, tape or online servers. A number of free and proprietary back-up software are available including those from Microsoft, Symantec, Apple, IBM, and Norton.