Backup your data properly!

Do you worry about losing all of your precious data – decades of family memories and a lifetime of documents and paperwork? Tekkie Help experts SARAH and BO share with us the four most common backup mistakes and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Moving all data to a “backup drive”

We frequently have customers who come to us with an external hard drive that’s intended to be their “backup drive”, yet it holds the only copy of their data. A backup is only a backup if it’s a second or third copy. External drives are excellent backup devices but if you’re moving data off your computer to make space, always ensure you make a second copy.

Mistake #2: Confusing backups with syncs

While the likes of iCloud, Google Drive and Dropbox are excellent ways to store data, did you know that these cloud solutions are not strictly a backup? The Cloud is actually a synchronising software that replicates the data stored on other devices. For example, if you delete data off the Cloud or off your phone, it will also delete off your device or the Cloud. To prevent falling into this common trap, make sure you carefully check your Cloud settings before deleting photos, and also make sure you have a versioned backup of your devices.

Mistake #3: Using the same backup drive for years

Hard drives generally only have a life span of four to five years, so it’s essential that you regularly replace the hard drives you’re using for your backup. The same applies for your computer’s internal hard drive, too!

Mistake #4: Forgetting to verify the backup

It’s all well and good setting up a backup system, but what if it fails and no one notices? Regularly checking your backup to ensure everything is running smoothly can save you a huge headache later on down the line. When verifying your backup, you should look to see if the time and contents are correct, that each backup has finished and that you can successfully restore any data written during the backup.

Don’t fall victim to these common backup blunders! If you need help or advice setting up a robust backup, call 8113 8682 or visit tekkiehelp.com – and quote “Expat Living” for a 15 percent discount on labour.

This article first appeared in the September 2020 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!