Have you ever thought about what may happen to all your important computer data
in the case of a fire, flood, or storm? What about if your laptop is lost or stolen or
otherwise compromised? In any case, as the average lifespan of a hard drive is only
approximately five years, it is extremely important to back up all your important data,
such as files, photos, and video, now - while you still have the information in your
possession.
Data Back-up Choice #1 - Cloud Backup Storage Solution
Utilising a cloud-based service such as Dropbox and CrashPlan to back-up your
important data is an excellent option for all computer users. Since a cloud-based
system does not require any additional hardware and is extremely affordable, this
solution is often the best and easiest solution for most users.
That said, there are also some free cloud-based solutions that you can utilise as well.
For instance, you can choose to use Windows Live Mesh which will securely store up
to 5 GB your computer data online in a Microsoft Data Center. Google Drive offers a
similar service and will also securely store your first 5 GB of data – absolutely free of
charge.
Data Back-up Choice #2 - External Hard Drive
Another great way to back up your important computer data is via an external hard
drive. This type of storage may be for you if you no longer have space in your free
cloud-based account or you simply are looking for an additional way to store your data.
These types of hard drives usually cost about $50 to $100 at computer stores. Setting
up your hard drive is a relatively simple process as the vast majority of computer will
recognise the external drive the instant that you plug the device into your computer.
Data Back-up Choice #3 - USB Flash Drive
A simple USB flash drive is yet another option when it comes to backing up your
computer data. This option is an exceptionally good one for you – especially if
portability is a concern. That said, it is important to keep in mind that most USB flash
drives do have limited write/rewrite cycles available on the devices.
When and How Should You Back-up Data?
As a general rule, you should back up all of your important data - on two different
mediums - on a weekly basis. These data back-up mediums can be physical ones such
as a hard drive – or they can consist of one physical back-up and one cloud-based
solution. In addition, when you are not backing up you r data, you should keep your
hard drive or flash drive in a safe place – on the off chance that a flood or other type of
natural disaster occurs. Overall then, you should keep your computer data in multiple
formats and in many places as is reasonably possible.
Have you backed up all your data on various mediums and stored them appropriately?
Congratulations! However, your work is definitely not over yet. Besides ensuring that
you backup your information on a regular basis, you should also check your storage
devices for any obvious signs of degradation. For instance, you can complete a SHA1
hash run on the saved files.
To conclude, while backing up your data may seem like a chore at times, it is imperative
that you do so – or risk losing all your important files, videos – and cherished photos
forever.