World Backup Day is this week, on March 31, and serves
as a reminder for people to back up their valuable data. But what exactly is a
backup and why should you care?
A backup is a separate copy of all your important
files, for example family photos, videos and documents. Instead of storing it
all in one place, you keep a second copy of everything in a safe place in case
you lose your device or data gets wiped out by malware.
So, how do you back up?
For ESU data, we have got you covered! Every employee
and student has 1 TB of storage on OneDrive which comes with the Microsoft
account. Simply sync your folders with OneDrive and it will automatically make
backups as you go, so you never have to worry about it! The Help Desk has put
together a great section with instructions and videos, which can be found here.
For
your personal data, you have different options – there are pro’s and con’s to each
and it really just depends on your preference.
- The first option is backing up to a hard drive or
flash drive. Instructions on how to set up your backup can be found here.
People are often most familiar with this option, but there are some things to
consider. In order to back up your data in real time, the hard drive has to be
plugged in to your device at all times. That means, if your device is lost or
stolen, your hard drive might be as well. You might also consider potential natural
disasters and hardware failures as you make your decision. The advantage of
using a hard drive is that you are in control of your data and you don’t have
to trust a third party with it.
- The second option is backing up to a cloud storage
provider. The process is going to be similar to setting up OneDrive. You can
purchase a personal license from Microsoft which includes 5 GB of storage or
use other providers that meet your needs. The advantage of this option is that
you set up synchronization once and won’t have to worry about it again. On the
other hand, you are trusting a third party with your data and the cloud storage
has to be configured correctly.
- The third option is Network-Attached Storage (NAS). NAS is basically the best of both worlds, your own “mini cloud storage.” It attaches to your home network and provides you with your own personal cloud space. You can connect multiple devices, such as computers, smart TVs and tablets, and access your files with all of them. It can be a bit of an investment, depending on how much storage capacity you need, but it may be worth it.
Now that you’ve learned about the different options,
take the World Backup Day pledge on social media and win a security gift bag! And don't forget, friends don't let friends go without backup!
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