In my day job, I’m an IT&Comms engineer, providing IT support services to around 80 members of staff. As a matter of priority, our IT department runs two different methods of data backup: file snapshot and volume backup to USB3 disk drive. Staff accidentally delete files and folders from time to time, and we have to be able to restore that data immediately – a function we are very proud of being able to provide.
A number of events lately have prompted me to write this blog post about the importance of backing up your data, especially if you’re a person at home who doesn’t have the level of IT know-how needed in a business.
What do I have to worry about?
There are lots of ways to implement backup into your home’s computer systems, and they don’t have to be difficult to use! Imagine that you’re working on a very important project which has taken 3 months so far. Depending on where your project is saved, you could be looking at a LOT of work needing to be done again, if you suffer a hardware or software failure.
What about those 20 years worth of photos you’ve recently scanned onto your computer? If they’re not backed up in the event of a computer crash, you will be losing more than just your computer. I’m not trying to scare anyone, but these are very real potential problems and generally, people only realise this when their computers fail and they lose all their data.
What can I do to make sure my data is safe?
Backup to another computer
I’ve got a machine at home running Windows Home Server. Windows Home Server (WHS) is a special version of Microsoft’s Windows Server line that is customised to be easy to use for those who don’t necessarily have the best understanding of modern computer systems. WHS provides the ability to backup up to 10 computers in your home or small business using a program which is installed onto each PC. You then have the ability to have those PCs backed up every night.
The advantage of WHS is the simplicity. You simply set your backup schedule and that’s it! The server itself monitors whether backups have taken place successfully and notifies you of any errors by changing the backup program’s icon to an ominous red. I would seriously consider purchasing a home server if you have the cash. You can even re-purpose an older computer (no older than 2003 ideally) and just buy the software to run on it!
Backup to the internet
For much cheaper solutions, there’s always Mozy. Mozy is a cloud backup service, which means your data is backed up to many servers on the internet. Files can be restored just as normal by simply downloading them. The advantage of Mozy over WHS is that you don’t need to have any extra hardware lying around. You just pay your £4.99 a month and you can have 50GB of backup storage to do what you want with.
The big advantage with cloud services like Mozy is they’re offsite. This means the data you backup isn’t stored at your home – it’s stored out on the internet in multiple places. In the event of a fire, the last thing you’ll be thinking of is your computer data… but then after a few weeks you’re back on your feet and need to file your business accounts! If you were backing up to another computer in your house, CDs/DVDs or USB memory sticks, you’re likely to have lost those backups too. Backing up to a cloud service is a much safer option, and takes the responsibility away from you.
If you’re reading this and thinking “crap! I’ve got stuff I need to save!”, then you should definitely consider one of the solutions above. You’ll be kicking yourself if the time comes that you wish you’d backed up your stuff.
Touch wood that when the time comes, your data is safely and securely backed up!
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