Bad Weather Can Lead To Data Loss

With the regular thunderstorms come data loss. I've had several customers frustrated by power spikes and brown-outs. With all the methods to back up your data, I would recommend setting up at least the bare minimum for vital files. There are three main ways to back up your data: (1) duplicate files in your computer, (2) external media outside of your computer, and (3) an online backup.

The fastest method to do a backup is inside your computer. The hard drive is where all your files live, and copying a file from one place to another inside your computer is easy. Unfortunately, if your computer dies, so can your original and backup files. The industry common name for this is the idiot's backup. For this reason, I rarely recommend using this method except for on-the-fly backups as you're working.

The second fastest method to do a backup is to someplace outside your computer such as an external hard drive, flash drive, or to a DVD. I'd recommend more than one external backup device since a power failure or lightening strike during the backup can take out both the original and the backup. If the data is valuable enough, move one backup to another location. For example, an office backup can be easily taken home by the owner so there's always data in two places.

The slowest method to do a backup is an online backup. It is also depends on the company you hire to do the backup service as for reliability. Most big name online backup services have exceptional security and redundancy to prevent data loss on their end. To make it more convenient, many of the online backup companies have software that can run on your computer and do the backups behind the scenes so you don't even have to worry about it.  Perhaps the best advantage is that many of these services offer easy access of your data on several different platforms, such as Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Android devices.

Personally, I use all three methods. The on-the-fly backup handles multiple versions of a file as I am working. The external backup is great to copy files I need backed up immediately. And the online backup preserves the documents that would be devastating if I were to lose them in a fire.

Feel free to call on me and have me configure your backup solutions today.

Eric Wardowski

(678) 404-0031