Backin’ up is hard to do?

They say that backin’ up is hard to do. But you must know, this is simply just not true.

If you are like me, you have your personal computer chalked full of all sorts of files from various parts of your life. Family and travel photos, home movies, music, work files, bills, and tax documents. Many years of memories, not to mention all your personal settings, playlists, calendars, contacts, bookmarks and emails. It is very evident, computers touch most parts of our lives these days. Whatever you have on your computer, it is all extremely valuable. Dealing with the loss of these files is not a scenario I would wish upon anybody.

There are a number of reasons to back up your data and a number of storage solutions available. Not all of us are as tech saavy as the next person, so let me walk you through some of the basics.

Why back up?

• It is the absolute truth all hard drives will eventually fail. As mentioned, it could be potentially devastating to loose everything stored on one’s hard drive.
• Files can become corrupted
• Main logic boards can malfunction
• Macs can be lost or stolen, taking all your data along
• Power failure or spikes can occur, damaging computer components

What’s to be done?

Good news is here, there are options and many of them. There are two main methods of backup, Local and Cloud. Local backup involves the use of an external hard drive either connected directly to your Mac or your network. You need an external hard drive but not an Internet connection. External hard drives provide easy, fast access to your files but may not be ideal for people on the go. The cloud method is when your data is uploaded via the Internet to servers located somewhere else. The cloud method can be a great safety net for when you are not home or working across multiple devices but does require the Internet to work. You can choose one or the other, or use both simultaneously.

Within the two methods described, there are various options to consider. For Local back up, you need to purchase an external hard drive. There are many makes and models available with different features such as capacity, speed, reliability and portability. Ask one of our friendly Apple Specialists for assistance selecting a model to best suit your needs. With the Cloud option, there are a number of different online services available. Consider cost, compatibility, reliability and accessibility features in your selection process. Once you choose, you will need to subscribe and install to get started.

For those needing help to get started, we offer a free seminar on just this very subject. ‘Backing Up Your Data’ is a regularly occurring seminar for beginners at all of our retail locations. The seminar will cover topics such as what you need to backup, the dos and don’ts and all the different methods of backing up. Also, participants will learn how to get started backing up and restoring files. All the basics to get you started in securing your precious files, data, memories and more. Register online for free.

I beg of you, don’t say good-bye to your important data. Take the necessary steps to avoid disaster. Trust me, this is not the end.