4 Tips for Protecting Your Data
You’re about to take that perfect picture on your smart device – with the perfect lighting, in the perfect setting. But you come to find out that your storage is maxed out! Just delete some old photos to make room, right? That’s when you come to the next realization – you never backed up your old photos!
Sound familiar? For most people, storing physical keepsakes, such as memorials, photo printouts and important documents has always been a priority. However, too many of us fall into scenarios like the above with our digital keepsakes. These need to be appropriately stored and protected with the same level of care as our tangible mementos.
Forgetting to back up your photos isn’t the only way to lose your data. Spilled coffee, dropping the device on the floor, hardware corruption or even things out of your control like a virus can not only ruin your day but wipe out your precious data in seconds. If it hasn’t happened to you, it’s likely happened to someone you know and can be frustrating and time-consuming.
Fortunately, the number of consumers backing up their computer once a year or more has been increasing over the years, according to an ongoing survey from Backblaze, a data backup company. However, 19% of computer owners have never backed up all their data, according to their 2020 survey, while only 20% of respondents back up their data monthly and 12% weekly.
Unfortunately, mistakes and mishaps are unavoidable. There are ways to proactively get ahead of data loss, with more tools available than ever before to help make the process easy even for the worst procrastinators and most tech-challenged users among us. Here are four important tips to help you get started on your backup journey.
1. Explore the benefits of cloud services
The cloud continues to become increasingly popular as a safe, effective and reliable way to store data. One of its major benefits is accessibility of the data from anywhere and on any device. The cloud is also cost-effective, with many services offering free storage for a certain amount of data. If you’re someone who’s constantly on the go, or likes being able to access your documents and data from anywhere across devices, cloud solutions might be right for you.
Some of the popular cloud providers include Apple’s iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. We recommend you shop around for the one that will best suit your needs based on the amount and type of data that you have to store.
2. Invest in an external hard drive – either software or hardware
External hard drives range in price depending on storage capacity and capability, allowing you to physically store your data close to you as opposed to an internet-based service. According to Lifewire, hard drives are favored for their ease of use but have potential drawbacks such as high cost, risk of failure and being subject to damage based on the location they are stored (i.e., extremes in temperature). While some are password protected, a hard drive isn’t the way to go if you lose physical items easily, as this can put your data in the hands of the wrong people if left behind or lost. On the other hand, hard drives can come in handy for storing data in a safe place and migrating old data or documents off an old device, or a device that might have low storage capacity.
3. Set automatic reminders or recurring backups
Isn’t it the best when your devices do the manual labor and remembering for you? Many backup software and built-in backup programs can be set to recurring either weekly or monthly so you don’t even have to push a button when it comes time do another backup. If you opt for an external hard drive, it’s best practice to set reminders for when to do your manual backup so that you’re regularly adding new data, documents and files to the equipment should something unexpected occur.
4. Speak to your IT support or department about best practices for your work documents and devices
Corporate IT individuals or departments are the most knowledgeable and up-to-date resources on the latest and greatest backup technology. They will also know the products or services that your company has invested in to keep corporate data safe and secure and what backups might be running regularly on your computer without you realizing it. Some of your existing business solutions may also have their own help desks/customer service to support you when needed.
It’s important to play an active role in your data protection to avoid catastrophes that may be in or out of your control. We encourage you to take the World Backup Day pledge on March 31st which you can find at the bottom of the World Backup Day website. Put your words into action to protect your most valuable personal and professional files so you are not left wishing that you had done so sooner.
Need advice on how to safeguard your business data? Schedule a consultation with a Sharp representative near you.