Imagine losing all your digital files: irreplaceable documents, precious photos, and family videos.
Each year, some 60 million computers fail, and 200,000 mobile phones are lost or stolen, according to World Backup Day, an independent initiative to help preserve important data.
Considering only about one in four people back up their files, those losses often mean countless files are gone forever.
Take some time today to ensure you’re not a victim of data-loss by copying your files and storing them in multiple locations and formats.
External Backup
The classic method of backing up your files, use an external hard drive or USB stick to store copies of your data.
It’s important that you store hard drives and USB sticks somewhere they won’t be damaged or stolen along with your physical devices.
Cloud Backup
Storing files in the cloud means you can access them from anywhere you’re connected to the internet.
Cloud files are not at risk of being lost in a fire or theft since they’re not physical copies of your document. Many cloud servicers offer free storage for small amounts of data.
Make sure you select a vetted and well-secured cloud service. Popular providers are Apple iCloud, OneDrive, and Google Cloud.
Smartphone Backup
According to World Backup Day, 90% of the time a mobile phone’s backup is stored in the cloud serviced by the phone manufacturer. This isn’t a true backup. If you lose access to your phone and the cloud, you’ll lose access to all those files.
There’s a simple solution: Back up using a separate cloud service or backup party. Google “Best Smartphone Backup” to find top lists from experts.
Don’t take a risk with your digital files. Ensure you’ve backed up everything using secure methods that aren’t linked to your other backups.
And while you’re thinking of security, make sure your myCalPERS security settings are up to date.