Why You Should Back Up Your Data

What Is a Data Backup?

A data backup is a copy or archive of important information on your computer or mobile devices that can be used to restore your information after data loss. Hard drive failures, theft, or ransomware attacks may lead to losing important files on your devices. Data backups can be stored in physical hard drives or on cloud backups.

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Why Should I Back Up My Data?

From treasured photos to confidential information or classified business documents, losing important data can be a devastating loss. In some cases, losing data can even compromise your personal identity. Backing up your data allows you to maintain a secure archive of your important files and information. While you may not think you’re at risk of data loss from a cyber threat, losing or damaging your device accidentally can destroy years of important data.

What Data Should I Back Up?

When backing up your data, you don’t need to include every file and image on your device, although the more data you back up the better. A good rule of thumb is to backup anything that can’t be easily replaced. For businesses, this would include files, databases, confidential customer data, and operating systems—typically, an IT department manages regular data backups. For personal devices, you might only need to backup pictures, videos, and important documents or spreadsheets. If you’re using a smartphone, you may be able to back up your entire device at once.

Data Backup Solutions

Depending on your device and what you use it for, you can choose from several data backup solutions.

Removable Media

Small portable devices that transfer files from one device to another can be used to back up data. USB flash drives are a common removable media option. While they can be an affordable and easy option, removable media has storage limitations and can be lost or stolen.

External Hard Drives

Another option for a physical data backup is an external hard drive. External hard drives connect to a computer or laptop through cables or wirelessly. Like removable media, external hard drives are portable and easy to use, but they’re also capable of storing larger files, up to 10 TB.

Cloud Data Backup

Also known as the cloud, cloud backups let you back up data to hardware in a remote location. You can then access your data on any device using the internet. Most services provide a large amount of storage and encrypt your data to keep it secure. Unlike physical backup options, cloud backups are compatible with most devices including smartphones, tablets, computers, and laptops.

After you’ve backed up your data, you’re not finished keeping your data secure yet. While it’s recommended that businesses keep multiple copies of their data in multiple locations, most people only need to keep one or two backups. If you’re concerned about data loss, keeping one cloud backup and one backup on an external hard drive will keep your data safe. How often you should back up your data depends on how often you add new files or alter documents. The longer amount of time you leave between backups, the more data you could lose. Regularly backing up your devices ensures you’ll always be able to access your most important files and information.