Most people only think about backups after losing something. A simple setup now means a broken laptop or lost phone is an annoyance, not a disaster.
The simple rule
Keep three copies of anything important, on two different kinds of storage, with one copy somewhere other than your home. For most people that means the original, a copy on an external drive, and a copy in the cloud.
A plan that works for most homes
- Turn on cloud backup for your phone. Your phone's built-in photo backup is a good start. Check that it is actually turned on and has space.
- Back up your computer automatically. Use the built-in backup tool or a cloud service so it happens without you remembering.
- Add an external drive. Keep one connected for automatic backups, or plug it in on a regular schedule.
- Gather scattered files. Old computers, memory cards and drives in a drawer should be copied somewhere safe.
- Test a restore. Once in a while, try opening a backed-up file. A backup you have never tested is just a hope.
Common mistakes
- Thinking that syncing to the cloud is the same as a backup. If you delete a file, a sync deletes it everywhere.
- Keeping the only backup right next to the computer, where a fire or theft takes both.
- Running out of cloud space and not noticing that backups have stopped.
Already lost something?
Stop using the device if you can, since new activity can overwrite deleted files. Recovery is not always possible, but it is worth a look.
We can set up your backups and check that they work, or try to recover what was lost. See our data backup and recovery service.