If you have a computer you need a backup plan
After spending more than three decades as a computer tech of one sort or another I’ve seen all sorts of disasters. The worst ones are when data is lost, either by user error (don’t “store” files in the trash can!), clumsy accidents (don’t sit your Starbucks next to your laptop!), or just hardware failure (all hardware will fail at some point, especially hard drives.) Lately we can add ransomware to the list. Malware will get in to your computer somehow and lock all your files and ask for a generally large sum of money to unlock them, which they may or may not do even after you’ve paid them.
The missing data can sometimes be priceless. The only photos of you and a loved one who’s passed. The one copy of the book you’ve been writing for two years. Your half finished Masters thesis.
I’ve seen all of the above scenarios in my career. None of the data was recovered. It was just gone, instantly and forever. If they’d had a backup plan in place all of it could’ve been saved.
If you have a computer you need a backup strategy. Here’s what I recommend.
Ideally you need three copies of your data. The original copy on your computer, a local copy on an external hard drive or flash drive, and an off-site copy.
The local copy can be used to restore your information in case of a hardware problem or accident. Once the the hardware is fixed or replaced you simply make a duplicate of your backup from the external drive onto the fresh new drive and you’re good to go like nothing ever happened. No disaster, no drama.
However, if a catastrophe happens, like flooding, a house fire, or a drunk driver plowing through the wall (happened to me when I was a teenager), then your external drive sitting next to your computer is probably going to be destroyed at the same time. This is why you want a backup somewhere off site. I recommend using one of the online services. The two most popular ones are Backblaze and Carbonite.
What do I do? The 3 copy method. A program called SuperDuper! makes a clone of my Mac every night, and Backblaze backs it up to their remote servers continuously all day long. I’m not familiar enough with Windows apps to recommend a cloning program, but I’m sure Google can help you find one. The online services work on either platform.
So get a backup plan. If you don’t want to go the full 3 copies route, at least sign up for one of the online services. It’s the easiest way to backup, and it’ll protect your data no matter what happens at home.
Do it today.