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NT Backup Versus WinBackup

As you probably know, Windows comes with a built-in backup program known as NT Backup. This program allows you to back up files and folders to disk or tapes. Although NT Backup works well for system administrators backing up NT servers, it is not that well suited for normal workstation users. The reason for this is that NT Backup lacks important features like compression or backup to CD, which are often requested by normal users. Using NT Backup can also be quite difficult for backing up things like emails and Internet Favorites unless you know a lot about Windows.

Backing Up User Data with WinBackup
Unlike NT Backup, WinBackup allows users to easily back up Outlook Express emails, address books, My Documents, Internet Favorites, and other user files by simply selecting those items from the user data shortcuts. By making it easier for end users to create their own backups and store them on a shared server, administrators of IT departments can save valuable time and resources.

Built-in Compression
While NT Backup was designed for servers and tape drives with hardware compression, WinBackup was created with home or workstation users in mind. Because most normal users will run their backups to either a network server or maybe a CD-R or CD-RW, WinBackup supports compression of all backups before they are stored on a media. In corporate network environments, this feature can reduce network loads as well as server loads and storage requirements considerably. If you are running a backup to a CD, CDRW or a DVD, compression can often double the capacity of the storage media.

Shared Servers and Security
If your company or organization has one or more file servers connected to the local network, you will probably want to save backups to the server. The individual user backups can then be backed up from the server to tape or some other offline media by the administrator. By leaving backups on the file server, users will often be able to restore lost files and emails themselves. While storing backups on a shared server has many advantages, it can also introduce new security risks. Since backups often contain sensitive emails and documents, it is therefore recommended that backups be encrypted before they are sent across the network. WinBackup can encrypt backups on-the-fly using 128- or 256-bit AES encryption, making it virtually impossible for unauthorised users to access the data. By using strong encryption, backups can safely be transmitted across networks and stored on shared servers without compromising security.

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