There is a saying popular in the IT world: “There are two kinds of people: those who make backups and those yet to start making them,” and it did not come from nowhere. Those who understand the importance of creating backups know that data loss can occur anytime. Those who have yet to realize the importance of it, and therefore the risk of losing essential data, may simply be unaware of how to create them. The loss of customer data can be costly and troublesome for a company. It can also be painful for a private individual. That is where backups come in.
What Is a Backup
A backup is a copy of important data or files you can use to restore the original data in case of loss or damage. You can do a backup on physical media or online. It is a security measure that can help protect critical information and prevent catastrophic data loss.
How to Make Backups
There are several ways to create a backup, depending on how the copy is stored and the data type. A few popular methods you can find below:
External Hard Drive
Connect an external hard drive to your computer and copy the files you want to backup onto it–that is a simple and relatively inexpensive backup method.
Cloud Backup
Use a cloud backup service such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive to upload your files to the cloud. That provides remote access to your data and can be helpful if your computer is lost, stolen, or damaged.
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
A type of storage connects to your home or office network, allowing multiple devices easy access to your files and folders. The NAS is accessible from the web, and you can use it as comfortably as local data.
Disk Imaging
Disk imaging software backs up your entire computer system, including the operating system, installed software, and all files and folders. This method is helpful if you must restore the system during a catastrophic failure.
Manual Backups
You can back up files by copying them to an external drive or burning them to a DVD or CD. This method is time-consuming and less reliable than the others but can be helpful for small data.
Whichever method you choose, it is crucial to set a backup schedule and stick to it. In this way, your data is always protected and up-to-date.
How to Automate Backups
Backups do not have to be overseen by yourself. Life-saving automation solutions use software to regularly and automatically back up data at scheduled intervals, usually daily or weekly. You can configure it to run in the background without user intervention, making it a convenient and reliable way to ensure a constant backup of your data.
Automatic backups have several advantages over manual methods. Firstly, they save time and effort by eliminating the need for manual backups, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error.
You can choose from various solutions: cloud-based services and local backup software on your computer. Some may offer additional features like encryption, versioning, and automatic data synchronization between devices. When choosing among them, consider your needs, budget, and security (redundancy) required to protect your data.
Why You Should Make Backups
Backups are only sometimes thought of and can significantly increase the demand for disk space. However, it will pay off greatly in case of a failed system update, unexpected data loss, or even hardware destruction. In such a situation, restoring data from a backup saves time, money, and stress.
Protection Against Data Loss
Backup is a safeguard against unexpected data loss due to hardware failure, human error, or malware attack. Losing important data can be devastating, and having a backup will allow you to avoid the considerable time and expense of trying to recover lost files or restore lost data.
Business Continuity Assurance
If you run a business, backups are essential to ensure business continuity in the event of data loss. With a backup, you can quickly restore data and continue your business without major disruption, minimizing downtime and loss of productivity.
Regulatory Compliance
Many industries have regulations regarding data storage and protection. By creating backups, you can ensure that you comply with these requirements, avoiding costly fines and penalties.
Less Stress
Knowing that you backed up data can provide internal peace of mind and reduce the stress and anxiety associated with potential data loss.
In summary, backups are a simple but effective way to protect valuable data and guard against unexpected events that could lead to data loss. They provide peace of mind and can save both time and money in the long run.
Not sure which backup method to choose? Call us at +48 22 120 17 00 and tell us about your needs.
