Are Data Backups Really That Important?
Our computers have become a necessary part of our lives. We use them for doing work, corresponding with friends and family and even for entertainment. Over time, most computer users create many file that are important documents which could cost both time and money if lost. Data backups are the best way to ensure you don't lose any of those files.
Many users have made the mistake of thinking backups are only for big companies or computer geeks, or even just thinking they'll do it when they have time. Unfortunately every single one of those users has either lost data by not having a backup, or they will one day. All computer equipment has a finite lifespan and will fail eventually.
On that day, one of two things will happen. You'll either suffer the grief that comes with losing financial information, passwords, music collections, personal photographs and all the software you've purchased. Or, you can repair or replace the computer and restore from the backups you've been making regularly. The latter is an annoyance, the first a disaster.
There are a number of things that can cause data loss. There's the obvious hardware failures, where something in the computer breaks down but there are also things such as floods, fires or even your dog bumping the power off button at the wrong moment. You could also be the victim of a virus or spyware that wipes out all your files.
Having that data stored in a backup is often the only way to get it back. And even if it can be recovered by a data recovery service, it can cost thousands of dollars for them to do the work.
What Should You Be Backing Up?
For the average user, it's usually not necessary to backup every file on the computer, which would require large storage space. But at bare minimum home users should backup personal files and irreplaceable software. Spreadsheets with financial records not easily available from other sources, legal documents, work-in-progress... the list is large.
But backups need not.
The easiest system for backing up your data is to just use the software that's included with most modern operating systems. Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux all include quite capable backup software. You just need to select the files and folders you want to backup and get it started. Many of these programs will even let you schedule the backup to run at a time you won't be using your computer.
For a modest sum backup software can be purchased that will only backup files changed since a certain date, or since the last backup. Alternatively, new files could be copied daily to a backup folder where they can be backed-up by your backup program. To ease the task of identifying which, use the Search option to list files 'newer than X'. Once the list is complete, copy them into the backup folder and run the program for just that folder.
Some types of data are a little more difficult to backup. Email is a good example. Some email programs don't actually store the messages on your computer - they're stored on the server instead. In these cases, you can usually export the messages into a file on your computer that can then be backed up.
Backups can be done to any kind of removable media - writeable CD's/DVD's, removable hard drives or even the newer 'keychain' devices that plug into a USB port. Even floppy disks can still be used in many cases. Documents often take a small amount of space. Just set aside 7 disks and rotate them from week to week.
Running a daily backup may seem like one more thing to accomplish in your already busy day, but the first time you lose a file that you need and don't have saved, you're going to wish you made the time.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
About the Author
Data backups are just one part of an effective computer security plan. Find out what else you need to know to protect your computer from other internet security threats at the Security Manor website. Visit http://www.securitymanor.com for more helpful tips and advice.
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