The more we rely on computers, the more valuable the data on them becomes — and the more painful it is when something goes wrong. While data recovery is possible after a crash, it's far better to back up regularly before disaster strikes. Here's how.
External drives offer a lot of storage for relatively little money. They connect via USB 3.0, FireWire, or Thunderbolt and make it easy to back up your most important data quickly.
Drives range from a few gigabytes up to 8TB, so one large drive can handle backups for multiple computers. Just keep in mind that hard drives can fail too — if you have critical data, use multiple smaller drives rather than putting everything on one.
If you're using an external drive, take advantage of your operating system's built-in backup tools:
Automated backups take the guesswork out of the process. Set it and forget it — everything is copied without you having to remember.
Cloud storage is best suited for your most important files and folders. Your data is stored on a professional server — far less likely to fail than an individual hard drive — and accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
Most providers offer automatic sync, so your backed-up data is never more than a few hours old. The main downside: you need a reliable internet connection to both upload and retrieve files.
Flash drives and SD cards are highly portable and inexpensive. A flash drive on your keychain gives you a copy of critical files at all times.
Buy a reputable brand like SanDisk or Kingston, and choose a design with a cap or retractable connector to protect against damage. SD cards offer faster write speeds and higher reliability — and many tablets include an SD card reader, giving you more ways to access your data in a pinch.
Whichever solution you choose, consistent backups matter more than the method. A good approach:
Once the habit is formed, it's barely any extra work — and it can save you enormous stress and expense if your computer ever fails.
By David Molnar