Mac® Security Bible

8.2. Choosing Backup Software

You know that you should back up your Mac, and you know generally what end result you want to achieve, so which backup software do you choose? Years ago, when few backup programs existed for Mac OS X and even fewer had a full range of features, the choice was simple. For most people, in fact, Retrospect (once published by Dantz but now owned by EMC) was the only option worth considering.

Retrospect is still worth considering, but now it's just one of a vast and rapidly growing range of alternatives. Even poring over the specifications of every backup program — much less trying all of them out — requires far more time than most of us have.

I've compiled a list of more than 100 Mac backup programs, complete with extensive feature comparisons, that you can use to help evaluate your many options and decide what best meets your needs: www.takecontrolbooks.com/resources/0014/.

Therefore, what I present here is a short list of questions to consider when looking for backup software, along with some examples of applications that may provide the capabilities you need. You may have additional requirements that go beyond what I mention here, and new or updated backup software may be available by the time you read this, but these features should provide a starting point for making a decision. In any case, bear in mind that you may get the best results from using ...