If you’ve sat down to work at a computer within the last ten years, it’s happened to you: you’ve been working on an intense project, and suddenly–tragically–all your hard work is gone. If you’re a systems administrator, this isn’t just an awful memory: it’s a nightmare you work hard every day to prevent.

Virtual backup software is a vital tool in the arsenal of both corporate systems administrators and desktop jockeys alike. Even if you’re not running scores of virtual environments from a Hyper-V host–but especially if you are–you don’t just want the peace of mind that comes from a rock-solid backup solution. You need it.

Backup software stores information in a virtual environment. The best of these make sure that your data is optimized for speedy, seamless recovery. While physical media (such as tape storage systems, external drives and CD’s) have previously been the standby for backup, virtual solutions are emerging as the far more appealing option for a number of excellent reasons. Best of all, virtual backup is as respectful of the Earth’s resources as it is of your time, money and space.

SAVES SPACE

Physical backups take space. Lots of space. Even a small-business desktop system, backed up to a CD once a week, can easily fill a bookshelf in a year. If you’re a systems administrator for a corporation, that same year can easily fill storage rooms with tape.

Taking your storage out of the physical realm and into the virtual allows uncluttered–and, therefore, easy-access–safeguarding of your precious files. The best virtual backup software is image-based, which allocates a near-limitless amount of virtual storage space to park your data.

EASE OF USE

It goes without saying that virtual backup software solutions vary widely from software to software. The best of these are wizard-driven, allowing both couldn’t-be-bothered home businesses and bigtime IT administrators to easily back up their systems. (There are even virtual backup solutions that allow backup of a Hyper-V host virtual environment without shutting down the host’s guest virtual machines–talk about easy!) Optimum virtual backup solutions have set-it-and-forget-it scheduling features, letting the backup run itself while you take care of business.

A great virtual backup software doesn’t stop there. It also gives the user options regarding where to store the backup images: a shared network folder, USB, Firewire, or backup server.

SIMPLE ECONOMICS

Data protection and backup is vital for any business, big and small alike. It’s a fact: you have to back up your data. Since it’s a necessity to run consistent backups, antiquated physical-media storage easily becomes a money pit. You’re constantly buying more media to back up your files, buying more storage space to stash them, and paying staff to handle the tedious task of running those backups. It’s simply

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