7 Essential Data Back-Up Tips
Filed under: IT Support
We all know someone whose computer has crashed, and they lost everything. Maybe it has even happened to you. It’s bad enough when we realize family photos or favorite recipes might be gone forever, but data loss can be catastrophic for a business.
Data back-up won’t take a lot of your time, but it does require your regular attention. These seven tips can help you put together a comprehensive data protection plan.
Organize your files. Get organized first, so that everything will be easy to find in the event that you need to access your back-up files.
Victoria Rausch
Owner, Davik Consulting, Inc.
Determine your space needs. Allow yourself room to grow; don’t purchase just enough storage space to meet your needs right now. A good rule of thumb is to choose a storage method that will allow for double the amount of data you think you need to protect.
Use the 3-2-1 rule. Keep three copies of important files. Digital files should be kept in two different formats (such as a cloud-based system and a an external drive). One copy should be kept either offline, off-site, or both.
Consider software to manage the back-up process. If you haven’t backed up your data regularly, it’s probably because you’re busy and often forget. Explore software options that will manage data back-up for you, so that you don’t risk overlooking the task. Give us a call and we can walk you through your options.
Create a routine. Decide how often you need to back up data, and stick to that schedule. For some businesses, a daily back-up at the end of the work day will suffice. Others need to back up files much more frequently. In that case a cloud system, with automatic back-up, can be the optimal choice.
Choose the best time. Depending upon the amount of data you need to protect, the process of backing up everything can be a time-consuming task. Schedule the chore for a time when your computers are on, but ideally when you don’t need to use them.
Periodically run tests. Check to be sure that your system is working. You don’t want to find out after a loss that your data wasn’t backing up all this time!
If you have questions about data back-up, don’t leave this important task up to chance. Call Victoria Rausch of Davik Consulting, Inc. at 888-RING-MY-TECH to discuss your options and help you identify the data protection solutions that best match your business needs.
