Why, how, and what you should backup.
Why Backup?
Eventually, your computer is going to succumb to some kind of error. It could be a computer virus, a power surge, or a hard drive failure. When it does, you will lose your data. Unless you backup your data. And not just once; you need to do it regularly so you always have an up-to-date copy available.
How to Backup
Windows 10 comes with a built in automatic tool: Backup and Restore. This tool allows you to automatically backup everything on your computer very easily, including installation and system files, apps, and all of your data. Then, if the worst happens, you can recover your entire system, if just a few individual files if that’s all that is required. You can find out more about this tool here.
There are also a myriad number of third-party backup solutions on the market, from software that you install on your computer to cloud solutions. Choose the one that works best for you.
3-2-1 Strategy
One of the recommend ways to backup your computer is to use the 3-2-1 method. And it’s simple: when you backup, you make three copies of your backup file; two local copies (on a local hard drive and a network storage device, for instance) and one offsite copy (for instance, on a portable drive that you store off-site, or in the cloud). Using this method, you always have a copy available, even if your office is off limits.
What to back up?
So what files on your computer should you back up? In a nutshell, everything! Ideally, your entire hard drive should be backed up. Some solutions allow you to create an image of your hard drive, so if you drive dies, you can install a new one, and then re-image the drive exactly how it was before it collapsed.
If space is an issue, you can get away with selecting just your data, and maybe your email, and any key programs you have. A minimal backup should include at least your data files.
If you’d like to learn more about solutions or strategies for backing up your systems, contact TechPoint, and an experienced technician will be only too happy to help you out!
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