Backup Your Data

Do you need a reminder to back up your data? If you're like most people, you probably do! Every week, we're contacted by people with broken computers or lost data. Most of the time, the computers are fixable and the data is recoverable. But, it only takes one hard drive failure or a malicious program like CryptoWall to lose everything. Having a reliable and current backup is your best protection for every type of computer hazard. Below are a few simple things to keep in mind.

Extra Hard Drives
The prices of hard drives are at an all-time low. So, there's no excuse not to have an external drive (or two) that can store at least a couple copies of your entire system or data. However, not all external hard drives are the same. Many come with extra bells and whistles that don't actually benefit the average consumer. In our opinion, it's better to pay for a larger and better quality drive than a drive loaded with extra programs that you probably won't use.

Keep an Off-Site Copy
Having a backup is a great first step. But, in the case of a fire or other catastrophe, it's important to have an off-site backup as well. Many companies are pushing cloud-based solutions. While this is not necessarily a bad idea, it's important to take into consideration where your "cloud"-based backups are being stored, who has access to the data, how long it will take to recover the data in case of an emergency, etc. Because of this, we generally recommend storing an off-site backup in a location you have access to, such as a family member or friend's house. And, depending on the content of your data backup, you may want to protect it with a password or small portable safe for an added level of security.

The Cloud Is Not All Mighty
With all of the hype surrounding "the cloud" these days, you would think cloud-based backups are the perfect solution. As we mentioned above, there are several factors think about when considering different cloud services. In fact, you may come to the conclusion that a cloud-based backup isn't right for you. Unfortunately, one of the biggest problems we run into is visiting a client who has been thinking their data has been being backed up to the cloud for months (or years), only to find out that their backup wasn't set up correctly and their cloud storage is empty because no files were synced with their backup application.

Repetition
Now you have a backup and another one located off-site. All is good. But, it's important to remember to keep your backups current. If you have a large enough hard drive, you should be able to store multiple full backups on each drive. It's important to set a reminder on your calendar to make new backups often and rotate them off-site. We can help figure out a schedule that meets your needs to protect your data and automate the process if necessary.

Contact us if you have any questions!