World Backup Day - March 31
Don't be an April fool and prevent data loss.
Losing a device or file is a serious issue that users can experience. With backups – you can be confident that your files are safe and secure. Listed below are ways to take action and be proactive in the case of data loss. To have a robust backup solution, be aware of what devices (PC or Mobile) contain your important documents, what services are available to you, and how to maintain your backups.
Online back ups
- Storing your backup in the cloud is a smart and long-term solution, and removes the risks that physical backups present. These risks can be from having your physical backup lost/stolen to physical damage or data corruption.
- Accessing data from anywhere at any time is the largest benefit of cloud storage. Always be aware and monitor your account security and use while using cloud backups.
- The most well-known services where you can create a cloud backup are: Apple iCloud, OneDrive, and Google Cloud. These services offer free backup storage and paid for services for larger amounts.
External drives
Backups on external hard drives are still very common and while convenient – come with some risks. These risks include the device being lost/stolen, and the device being damaged or corrupted. If you use an external drive, store it safely and securely. An external drive is best used to supplement cloud-based storage/backups. There are multiple different external drive solutions but the most common are:
- External Hard Disk Drives (HDD): Lower cost for higher storage, but slower when reading/writing data. They are also larger and prone to damage easily due to moving components in the device.
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External Solid State Drives (SSD): Higher cost for smaller storage, but are much faster when reading/writing data. They are smaller and more durable than HDDs.
Backup on Windows
Microsoft provides documentation to quickly understand and get a backup up and running via Microsoft Account and External Drive.
Backup on Mac
Apple provides documentation on how to use their built-in backup solution “Time Machine” to back up your device to an external drive. They also provide documentation on how to back up to their proprietary service iCloud for online backups.
