Tips & Tricks: Data Backups – What to look out for, and how to create a plan!

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The key to avoiding Backup problems is to have a solid backup plan in place, regularly backup your data, test your backups, use reliable and secure backup technology, and store your backups in a separate location from your original data.

The amount of data we own is increasing, be that private data or confidential business data. People often do not correctly protect this data by backing it up as that process itself is time-consuming. This applies to companies too.

The most common problems people encounter

  • Not having a backup plan: Many people do not have a backup plan in place, which means they may lose important data if something goes wrong with their device.
  • Inconsistent backups: Even if people have a backup plan in place, they may not be consistent with backing up their data. For example, they may only backup their data once a month or once every few months, which means they could still lose important data if something goes wrong with their device.
  • Not testing backups: People may assume that their backups are working properly, but they may not actually test their backups to make sure that they can restore their data if needed.
  • Storing backups in the same location as original data: If people store their backups in the same location as their original data, they could still lose everything if that location becomes damaged or compromised.
  • Using outdated backup technology: Some people may rely on outdated backup technology that is no longer reliable or secure.
  • Failure to encrypt backups: People may not encrypt their backups, leaving their data vulnerable to theft or unauthorized access.
  • Over-reliance on cloud backups: While cloud backups can be convenient, people may rely too heavily on them and not have a local backup in case the cloud service becomes unavailable or they lose access to their account.

    • How to create a secure Backup Plan!

    Identify your critical data: Determine which data is most important and needs to be backed up regularly. This could include personal documents, financial records, photos, and other important files.

    Choose your backup method: There are several backup methods to choose from, including external hard drives, cloud storage, and network-attached storage (NAS). You can choose a single method or a combination of methods depending on your needs.

    Set up a regular backup schedule: Decide how often you want to back up your data. For example, you could choose to back up your data once a week or once a day. Make sure to stick to your schedule and automate the backup process as much as possible.

    Test your backups: It’s important to test your backups regularly to make sure they are working properly. This could involve restoring a few files from your backup and checking to make sure they are intact.

    Store your backups securely: Make sure to store your backups in a secure location, such as an encrypted external hard drive or a password-protected cloud service. You may also want to keep a physical backup in a separate location from your primary backup.

    Consider versioning and archiving: If you need to keep older versions of your files or want to archive old data, make sure to include this in your backup plan.

    Review and update your plan regularly: As your data needs change, it’s important to review and update your backup plan regularly. Make sure you are still backing up the most important data and using the most secure and reliable backup methods available.

    By following a sensible plan like this, you can ensure that your data is backed up regularly and securely, minimizing the risk of data loss due to hardware failure, theft, or other unforeseen events.

    Jim Harrison

    Jim Harrison has a very broad sales and account management background, having previously been employed by various international companies in both senior sales and customer service roles. He joined O&O Software in March, 2006 in a sales and localization capacity, and having quickly recognized the potential for O&O Software worldwide, he was appointed Director of Sales International in 2008. Jim and his team focus on developing long-term, strategic partnerships in order to bring the O&O brand and product range to more and more international markets. Developing primarily the European, North American and Asian markets, his aim is quite clear: to have an O&O product installed on every computer, worldwide!