When is a backup not a backup?

It sounds like a bad joke doesn’t it? However the punchline isn’t funny at all.

You really don’t want to be on the receiving end when your backup procedure fails to give you the information you need, just when you need it most.

A backup is not a backup when it’s a copy.

The number of people I speak to that say they have backups of their data is quite high (those that don’t I generally give a nudge to), but the amount of people who tell me their backup consists of plugging a USB stick in once a week and copying the files over really scares me.

It’s good whilst it lasts (which is code for whilst you remember), in the event of a loss of data you’ve got to roll at the minimum six days back. In the event that you’ve forgotten to do your copy for a couple of weeks, you have to face the fact that your files are only as up to date as your last backup.

In my opinion backups should be something you never have to think about until the exact time you need them.

You need something that works, works automatically and is really easy to get your data back!

The best free option out there is probably Dropbox, you’ll get 2GB for free and it will appear as a folder on your computer. Just start saving everything into that folder (create a structure in their first otherwise it will only get more confusing). Everything is synced and backed up in that folder so long as your online (and if you’re offline will sync again when you come online). You can purchase more space if you run out.

Personally, I use Crashplan, for $59.99 a year our main computer has a set of files and folders that are continually backed up whenever they are changed when we are online (again it will sync later if we’re offline), it’s continuous, I don’t even have to think about it – the way it should be!

Photo Backup by GotCredit is licensed under CC BY 2.0.