What Is World Backup Day?
Every year on March 31st, World Backup Day serves as a reminder to protect our digital files. Whether it is work documents, important financial records or even important family photos or files, losing data can be frustrating and sometimes even devastating. A good backup plan keeps your files safe and easy to recover if something goes wrong.
Why Backing Up Matters
Imagine trying to turn on your computer and nothing is working. You can not access your computer or any of the files it contains? Maybe your hard drive failed, you accidentally deleted something important or you have been infected with malware. Without a backup, recovering those files could be impossible or very, very expensive.
A proper backup means you do not have to worry. If the worst happens, you can restore your files quickly from your backup.
Common Ways People Lose Data
People lose files all the time and it is not always their fault. Here is a list of some of the most common causes:
- Accidental deletion. We have all deleted by accident something we should not have.
- Hard drive failure. Traditional hard drives wear out over time, and solid-state drives (SSDs) are also not immune to problems either.
- Ransomware and viruses. Malware can lock or destroy your files.
- Theft or loss. Laptops, external drives and even phones can be stolen or lost.
- Natural disasters. Fires, floods and power surges can damage computers and storage devices.
What Makes a Good Backup Plan?
A common backup strategy follows the 3-2-1 rule:
- 3 copies of your data: one primary and two backups.
- 2 different storage types: Your backups are stored on two different medium. For example, an external hard drive and cloud storage.
- 1 off-site backup: a copy stored somewhere safe outside your office or house.
Best Ways to Back Up Your Files
Here are three ways you can backup your valuable data:
1. External Hard Drives
The traditional backup option that is a simple and cost-effective option. You just need to source an external; drive, plug it in and then copy your important files. This method can be automated with backup software and run at a scheduled time. Some external drives come with automatic backup software but we recommend a great free backup solution called, Cobian Backup.
2. Cloud Storage
Services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and iCloud allow you to store files online. Cloud storage is great for automatic backups and accessing files from multiple devices.
3. Full System Backup
Instead of backing up just files, a full system backup creates a copy of everything, including your operating system, programs and settings. If your computer crashes, you can restore everything to how it was before. VEEAM Backup is a program that allows you to create a full image of your computers drive. Their VEEAM Community Edition is free for smaller businesses.
How Often Should You Back Up?
This depends on how often you create or edit important files:
- Small business a once a day backup is a reasonable solution.
- Larger businesses may require hourly backups.
- Home users a weekly or monthly back may be sufficient.
Need Help Setting Up a Backup? We Can Help!
If you are not sure where to start, or if your current backup system needs improvements, we can definitely help. We can set up automated backups, recommend the best storage options and make sure your data is protected the right way.
World Backup Day is a great time to start thinking about protecting your files. Don’t wait until it is too late. Contact us today, and let us get your backup system in place!