Native Windows 8 Backup System – Will It Catch On?

Windows Backup did not gain an amazing reputation – people that use it, use it mostly because it’s convenient and free, rather than because they feel they can count on it.

Less than 5% of consumer users end up actually using Microsoft Backup, which is an incredibly low number given the general usage of embedded Microsoft products. However, with the migration towards Windows 8, Microsoft hopes to get its users hooked on their backup system, with a different type of backup – a continuous one.

If you have ever been a UNIX/Linux user, you might know a little more about this. But for Microsoft this is certainly a new move. Given the fact that they’re employing a new file system, it felt only fair to work on the backup side of things as well.

Content stored in your libraries, on your Desktop and in your Favorites folder can be backed up to an external hard drive by default, on an hourly-basis.

Microsoft considers this an important step towards protecting valuable data given the fact that people have complained about important data loss in the past, and the lack of a proper embedded solution.

The truth is, we live in a world that’s filled with data, and as we move more and more into a completely digital world, the risk of losing contact data, emails becomes more an more of an issue.

The solution was to work on a backup system that’s so easy that it takes the pressure off the user. No more having to go through an entire set of options unless you really want to.

The only problem with this backup system is the fact that it doesn’t seem all that suitable for business and their security & backup policies. Whereas it might prove cheaper to just go with the Microsoft option rather than acquire expensive licenses, it might not be as secure nor as good with retention policies.

Nevertheless, if that is the case, there is always the option of turning off this particular backup feature.