Losing your data can be a devastating experience. Whether it’s due to a computer crash, accidental deletion or theft, losing your data can mean the loss of important files, photos and memories. In this blog post, we will discuss 4 ways that you can back up your data at home. These methods are easy to use and will help ensure that you never lose your information again!
Why should you back up your data?
Sometimes all it takes is coffee spilled on your keyboard or your kid smashing your laptop on the floor and your important data is gone in a second. Backing up your data will keep your important work documents or personal information safe and easy to access. The methods listed below are relatively cheap and easy to implement and they guarantee your information is stored in a safe location.
USB Flash Drive
One of the most popular and easy ways to back up your data is to use a USB flash drive. All you need is a USB port on your computer and a flash drive (which you can purchase at any electronics store). Simply plug in the flash drive and drag and drop the files you want to back up onto it. This method is quick, easy and portable – so you can take your backup with you wherever you go! The only downside is that their storage capacity ranges from 128MB to 256GB, which might not be sufficient if you are trying to back up a ton of corporate files or videos.
HDDs and SSDs
If you want to back up your data and have a little bit more money to spend, you can purchase an external hard drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). These devices connect to your computer via USB and allow you to store a large amount of data – typically between 500GB and 10TB. They are larger and bulkier than flash drives, but they offer much more storage space. This is a great option if you have a lot of data that you need to back up. When comparing the two, the SSD is the obvious winner here, since it is faster, more reliable and it consumes less of your computer’s power to operate and to transfer files.
NAS Device
For those of you who want to get serious about backing up their data, a network-attached storage (NAS) device is the way to go. A NAS is a stand-alone file storage device that connects to your home network and can be accessed by all the computers in your house. They typically come with their own software that allows you to easily back up your files wirelessly. Most NAS devices have at least 2 drive bays, so you can even set them up for redundancy – meaning if one drive fails, you still have a backup! Prices for these devices can range from $500 to $2000, depending on the features and capacity you need.
Cloud Backup
Finally, if you want an off-site backup solution (meaning your data is stored remotely and can be accessed from anywhere), you can use a cloud backup service. These services range in price, but typically start at around $25 per year, depending on the storage options. They will back up your data to their servers, so even if your house burns down or your computer is stolen, your data will still be safe! Most of these services offer automatic backups, so you don’t even have to think about it – they’ll just do it for you.
No matter which method you choose, backing up your data is an important step in protecting your information. Do some research and decide which solution is right for you. Then take the time to set it up and you’ll never have to worry about losing your data again!