Use Cloud Backup to Save Important Files

Today, I received a phone call inquiring about data recovery from a desktop that had sustained water damage.  While it is not easy to talk about, we should all have a plan for backing up and recovering important files regardless of the circumstances we may encounter.

Most of us (myself sometimes included) do not back up our files on a regular basis.  And when we do back up, it usually consists of copying our important files onto a flash drive and leaving that near the computer.  While the flash drive is sufficient to give you your files if the hard drive crashes, it may not be enough if you face a disaster.  If a tornado, fire, flood, or other disaster strikes your house, the flash drive could be destroyed or lost along with your computer.  In the past, the only way to keep your data safe was to perform a backup and store it at another location.  While this worked fine for large companies, it was more difficult for home users and small businesses.

Now, the internet provides a simple solution.  There are many companies that offer a variety of automatic or semi-automatic backup options for you to store backups where they can be easily recovered.  Google Drive and Dropbox both offer a limited amount of free storage (15 GB for Google Drive and 2 GB for Dropbox) with options to purchase more space.  Both of these provide software that will install a folder on your desktop.  Anything saved into the folder will be automatically backed up.  I use Google Drive for personal files and Dropbox for my business files and would recommend either one.

If you want a complete backup of everything without having to save it to a particular folder, you can use an automatic backup company like Carbonite.  (I have not used Carbonite, but I know several people who use it and are very happy with their service.)  Carbonite will back up every file on your computer unless you specifically mark it to be ignored.

Regardless of which option you choose, you will find that it is simple to use and maintain an automatic backup.  Then, if you suffer a hard drive crash or another catastrophe that destroys your computer, you will be able to rest assured that your files will be safe.

Plus, as an added bonus, you will have the ability to access your files from anywhere.  Google Drive, Dropbox, and Carbonite all have mobile apps that allow you to open your files from your phone or tablet.