These days, so much of our lives are on our computers – term papers, tax documents, family photos, favorite songs. That can leave a lot of information at risk, unless you take the time to back it up on another device or service. Don’t think you need to bother? Below are 5 scenarios that could happen to your computer and very real reasons to back up the data on your computer:
Your Computer Could:
1. Get Stolen
2. Be destroyed or damaged in a fire
3. Get damaged by water
4. Fail, due to virus or other reason
5. Experience “human error” – you accidentally trash important information
Regardless of which issue you face, your data and information would be gone, unless you had backed it up. Two of the most common methods of backing up a computer are using a cloud backup service or an external hard drive. You may want to use one or both to make sure your information is available, no matter what.
Backing up information also involves understanding what happens to that information while it moves between devices and across a network. Data is not generally transmitted as one undivided block; networking protocols organize it into structured units that contain the information required for delivery and processing at different layers of the communication system.
At the relevant networking layer, this structured unit is known as a protocol data unit, with each layer handling data according to its own protocol and adding or interpreting control information as needed. This process helps networked systems identify how data should be delivered, checked, and reconstructed at its destination.
Understanding that structure is useful when considering data backup because a backup stored on a remote system still depends on reliable network communication before the information reaches its intended destination. A local copy may protect against hardware failure or accidental deletion, while a network-based backup introduces another stage in which data must be correctly packaged, transmitted, received, and processed.
How to use a cloud backup service
Even though cloud storage services are still relatively new, many people like the access and security they provide. Cloud storage allows you to easily transfer files from your computer to a web-based service, which stores them on an off-site database. These services use encryption and authentication to keep your data safe and secure.
Examples of cloud data storage services: Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, and Microsoft OneDrive
How to use a hard drive to back up your data
You can purchase a hard drive at most retailers. They are typically small, self-contained storage units. Some come with extra protection features such as a fireproof or waterproof casing and offer a variety of quality options. By connecting it to your computer, you can easily transfer data using either Mac OS X or Windows, on a daily, weekly, monthly or random basis.
Sources:
Why You Should Back up Your Computer & How to Do It | Chubb