Today is the 31st of March, which means that time of year has rolled around again. Yes, you guessed it, it’s World Backup Day.
Now, if you didn’t guess you’re probably asking yourself “what is World Backup Day?”, and in short, this day is the day of the year that techies like us remind the world to back up the data that matters the most to them. If you’re scratching your head over the concept of backing up, backed up data is basically any digital file that’s been copied and stored away from its original device. This gives you options in case disaster strikes.
Data Backup and Recovery – Why It’s So Important
Backing up your data is important for anyone, whether used for the sake of a large company, small business, or a home user. There are so many ways that you can lose your data in the modern world, from malware to a simple mistake, which is why it’s so vital.
Some of the potential causes of a data loss include:
- Your laptop, phone, or any other digital device gets stolen, meaning you could lose all your photos, videos, and other sensitive data.
- A malicious virus holds your data hostage, demanding financial payment for the release of it.
- Making a mistake when doing a data cleanout and deleting something important personally.
- Your external hard drive or device crashes or malfunctions, meaning you lose everything on there.
If you lose your data, it could mean hours or even years of work going down the toilet, and if your data is held hostage by hackers or a virus it could take some cost to retrieve it. With backed-up data, you have an extra layer of security against either of these outcomes or any others.
Data Backup Principles and Tips
Select Your Backups Based on Importance: You don’t have to back up everything, but you should definitely back up the files that are really important to you. Pictures and videos can hold sentimental value, but work files, personal information, and time-consuming projects should take priority.
Backup Files in Safe Places: If you’re simply backing up to the cloud or in a NAS device (network-attached storage) then your data might still be online at all times, meaning that cybercrooks and criminals may still be able to access it. Create offline backups, log out of accounts, and unplug devices when they’re not in use.
The 3-2-1 Rule: This rule states that there should be three versions of every backed-up file including the original, with two distinct methods of backing up used, one of them being entirely offline. This gives you more options in case of a data breach or loss, increasing your data’s security.
There’s never a bad day to back up, but why not today? We can always say tomorrow, how many tomorrows will it take before you really get around to it?
Celebrate World Backup Day today with us this year, you’ll thank us later.