Question : Problem: Backup Solution Help Needed

I am looking for some information as the best solution to backing up my files. Currently we only have around 10 - 15 GB of information to backup now, however in the future I was told to be prepared for 50GB range. Currently we have a RAID5 setup and are using 2 external Hard Drives. One goes home when they leave, and one stays in the home. However this becomes redundant and I would like to find a more efficent and better way to backup without spending an excessive amount of money. However if spending more money now, would save me money in the future that would be an option as well.

I also need to find a good backup program, currently they are copying and pasting and choosing replace all. Which means the backup is replacing files that have not been altered at all. Alot of the backups are digital images, and it is for a medical office so we want to make sure the files are secure enough to meet HIPAA standards.

I appreciate any recommendations.

Thanks,
Chad

Answer : Problem: Backup Solution Help Needed

Well, there are really two separate issues here:  (1)  a good backup program that won't copy all the unaltered files (which will also run much faster); and (2)  a better way to manage the actual backup disks/media.

For #1:  I'd suggest switching to SyncBack SE (http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/sbse.html)
Once you setup the backup profiles (jobs) you can set it to run automatically at specified times; or you can easily run it "on demand" with a simple double-click.   And it has lots of options that let you set the backup to work exactly how you want it to.

For #2:  Since your volume is relatively modest, you could do a couple of different things:

(a)  Burn DVDs for the off-site backup.   If you burned a "full" backup once a month; and just burned an incremental DVD each night (which I suspect would take only one DVD/day), you'd eliminate the extra hard drive, and probably increase your reliability.

(b)  Use smaller, easier-to-carry portable drives.   The notebook-drive-based portable drives are VERY small (literally fit in a pocket) and hold up to 120GB these days.   A few 50GB models would be sufficient for what you've proposed:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822154074

(c)  Use an internet-based data backup service.   This would completely eliminate the need for additional off-site storage.  http://www.backupsolutions.com/online-data-backup-service.php   I do know that these services are very secure; but do not know if they meet the HIPAA standards you referred to -- so you'd have to ask the service you were considering (I suspect they do).