As tedious as it can be, backup your computer’s content is critically important. It’s a habit everybody should practice, even with files that at the time might not seem all that crucial. For businesses, however, implementing this practice across entire digital systems is the only way to ensure that vital company documents are not lost forever, whether that be through hacking, technical malfunctions or human errors. Therefore, let’s take a look at the three best ways to back up your PC and files.
METHOD ONE: USE AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
An external hard drive is essentially the same thing you’ll find inside any desktop or laptop computer – it’s just external. It’s normally a relatively clunky piece of kit that will weigh a fair amount and require its own space on your desk, though advances in technology are meaning that they are becoming increasingly smaller and lighter.
The key benefit of an external hard drive is the amount of space most come with as standard. You can store up to 1TB of data on many cheaper models, or up to 16TB if you’re willing to spend a little more. To put this figure in perspective, it would take 85 million Word documents to fill one terabyte of data.
A consideration you might want to remember when purchasing external hard drives, however, is to ensure you choose one that comes with sufficient safety features. If an external hard drive is necessary, that naturally implies the files stored within are needed for future access. Therefore, consider purchasing one that comes with a fireproof or waterproof case. That way, your data is secure against any physical threat regardless of how unlikely it may seem.
METHOD TWO: FLASH DRIVES
Flash drives are basically portable versions of external hard drives. They are normally no longer than two inches in length and are suitable for hanging on a key ring or being transported in a backpack/briefcase.
The way flash drives work is by employing recyclable memory. Files can be transferred and deleted easily off any flash drive, and content can be dragged or dropped depending on where you want it to go.
One of the key drawbacks of using flash drives in business, however, is that they are not the most reliable method of backing up information. They are known to corrupt and breakdown over time, and it’s unfortunately common for older flash drives to break after a couple of years – locking the contents therein and rendering the backups inaccessible.
Moreover, the amount of space available on a typical flash drive is drastically smaller than that of their larger counterparts. Typically, most flash drives can hold around 256GB of data, and if you need more, you’re going to have to pay handsomely for the privilege: The Kingston DataTraveler, for example, which has the capacity to hold 1TB of data, comes in at over £600.
METHOD THREE: THE CLOUD
The cloud is the latest and greatest way to back up your files. Essentially a data center positioned off-site, the cloud is an ever-accessible bank of information to which individuals and teams can upload, edit and download files.
The way it works is simple: You sign up for an account as a provider and you have instant access to a certain amount of data. Many suppliers of cloud-based storage solutions even offer a certain amount of space for free, with inexpensive storage plans available for those who need larger suites. All you need to access this data is an Internet connection – it doesn’t matter where you are or which device you’re using; if you’re online, you’re plugged in. You just need to open your account and download, upload or edit whatever file you need.
