It is amazing to note the mistakes that even professionals commit, especially when it comes to safeguarding their data properly. Most of them do not perform simple back-up tasks and blame the system when it fails. This technical article will help you to gain insight on how to carry out a professional computer service task like backing up your data. This article assumes that you do not have loads of audio and video on your hard drive that calls for special backup routines.
1) How to begin securing data on my desktop or laptop?
Your best option is to create and designate a couple of specific folders on your desktop as the main backup folders and then store all your important data on them. In case you require an urgent back-up, all you need to do is to copy those folders on to an external storage media. This helps in another way as well. Since these folders lie on your desktop, you need not waste any time hunting around for them. You can also configure your browser and programs (like Excel, etc.) to save all their data to these folders. This way, you shall not have to look several folder/ sub-folders deep in order to back them up.
By saving all your sensitive data directly to a flash drive or to an external hard drive, you save yourself from the misfortune of having your sensitive data falling into wrong hands. In case of such a trouble, all that the thieves will have access to are the programs and not the personal or confidential information.
2) Superb, but how do I back up my designated backup folders?
There is no need for you to worry, since there are various options available and you can select one that suits you the best.
A) Cloud: Search around and you will find various online organisations that permit you to save your information on their cloud servers and then access them from any other computer in the world, as long as it is connected to the internet. You might try out the services offered by Mozy and Carbonite. They offer low-cost back-up options. The downfall of this system is that you have no way of knowing where your data is actually stored. If the server farm where your data is stored gets hacked, then you are in trouble. And the worst thing, you would not even be able to get through to the person responsible. There just isn’t one.
B) External Hard Drives: They provide you with the option of backing up your data securely and without any fear of it being hacked. They are portable and are available in various sizes and offer you lots of storage space for your important files. Your operating system should recognise it automatically as a portable storage device and should assign it with the next sequential drive letter. These drives offer, perhaps, the best plug and play option for those interested in backing up lots of data. Quite a few of them also offer one touch backup (OTB). This assists you to back up designated folders at the click of a mouse. Plug in encryption is also offered by a number of such devices. Despite their easy affordability and high storage capabilities, there are a number of downsides to these external drives. You might lose them or they might be stolen. This apart, they might get damaged on being dropped. You also need to carry it along with you.
C) Flash Drive – these miniature drives might not have the same storage capacity like the portable hard drives, but thanks to their small footprint, an individual can carry one of them around without any problem. Unlike the portable hard drives, the pen drives boast of flash memory, so there is no fear of the data being corrupted or lost if you accidental drop this device. The cons of this device is that they are prone to being lost because of their small size. Apart from this, it also does not have the storage capacity of the external hard drives. A number of such devices have built-in encryption facilities that safeguards your sensitive data in case the pen drive falls into wrong hands.
D) Home/Office Network Attached Storage Drive: This is, perhaps, the ideal solution for those who are interested in backing up loads of data, especially from networked computers. It is also known as NAS and quite a few of them also provide security features. However, you should be careful if you are using one that does not boast of security features, since their security might be compromised, especially when they are connected over a unsecured Wi-Fi network. In such circumstances you should configure the NAS security along with that of the network/router for the strongest protection. You should also be aware of phishing threats as they can cause a lot of troubles to your company privacy.
E) CD/DVD/Blu-Ray Backup: Gone are the days when these shiny circular disks were priced beyond the reach of the general person. Nowadays, they provide one of the best data storage options, where cost is also an important factor. The cons of this type of data storage is that you need to burn data on a session basis, if you want to save it to a single disk. This means that the same data is repeatedly saved along with the current data. If you close the session, then you cannot add anything further to the disc, making it a costly proposition. One way around this problem is to use rewritable discs. These disks are also susceptible to scratches so you need to handle them with care. You should also store it in a safe and secure place so that the chances of their being stolen is remote.
3) So which backup method is best for my needs?
While there is no doubt that the methods discussed above provide you with a myriad of data backup solutions, you should try to use a combination if you desire a higher level of security. You might save sensitive data on a pen drive and then encrypt it with TRUE Crypt and at the same time save duplicate files on your home NAS drive through secure VPN connection. In case your pen drive is stolen, you can rest assured that nobody else will be able to access the encrypted data. As far as your important files are concerned, you can gain access to them through the duplicate files stores on your NAS server. You should always backup your data on a daily basis to ensure that you do not miss out on backing up critical data. In fact, you should form a habit of backing up data on a fixed time every day in a virtual data room, you can look for virtual data room reviews and secure your files with the best option.
Here are some programs that can help you to secure your data:
Folder Lock: Can lock and hide any folder that you desire from prying eyes.
True Crypt: Secures your drives with high level hardware encryption
Acronis Drive Cleaner: Uses various renowned algorithms to erase all traces of data on a hard drive. In fact, you should use it to permanently erase your old computer’s hard drive prior to disposing of it.
The bottom line is that if your are mindful of your backup solutions, then you shall not need to repent later on.
If you are facing problems with deciding the method to choose for backing up your data, then you might as well check out solutions offered by Mobile Geeks.
Over and out
MobileGeekette
