Today is World Backup Day. A CBC story.
Data backup is really important so here are a few suggestions:
- Ensure that all your important data is backed up to at least one and ideally to two different "places", at least one of which is in the cloud.
- For files that live on your computer or an external drive, your first backup should be to a cloud provider. Your second backup can be cloud or local.
- If you have files that live in the cloud, you need at least one backup too, which could be on your computer or an external drive.
- Manual backup can work if you're diligent, but automated regular backup is much better.
- Cloud sync (often free, e.g., Google Drive) is not the same as cloud backup (usually paid, e.g., Backblaze). True backup will keep deleted files and old versions of your files for at least, say, a year, supports point-in-time restore, and lets you choose which folders to back up. Cloud sync providers usually keep these for no more than 30 days, don't support PIT restore, and only back up files you place in the single fixed folder.
- For sensitive data consider using a cloud provider with end-to-end encryption (E2EE), also called Zero Knowledge.
- For local backups (e.g., to external drives) you probably want to ensure that the data is encrypted. (But then also ensure that your computer's drive is encrypted. Windows 10 Home doesn't do that and Windows 10 Pro doesn't do it by default; if an someone steals your computer they'll get all your data.)
- For mobile devices you can reduce data backup concerns by ensuring that all important data on your device actually comes from (is synced from) the cloud, or, say in the case of new photos, is automatically backed up to the cloud.
