At the dawn of a New Year, we all make New Year resolutions – whether it is a diet, exercise program, or to de-clutter, we often commit to a resolution but rarely follow through beyond a few weeks.
One resolution you should consider and continue through the year is backing up your computer. It is an important practice to ensure that your information is protected. Computers should be backed up on a regular basis. A backup is useful when, for example, your computer crashes, a file becomes corrupted, or you are hacked.
Note: Today’s tip is specifically for home PC’s. There are more robust backup and disaster recovery solutions that we recommend to our law firm and medical practice clients.
There are several ways to achieve this:
The most rudimentary forms of backup are using DVDs or a flash drive. If you own a desktop computer, this is a fast, easy way to access documents on another computer no matter where you are. The cost of these backup methods are minimal. The down side to this is that you have to remember to perform the backups. I use this method to backup my photos and keep them in a safety deposit box at the bank.
Another alternative is to use an external hard drive that plugs into your computer. Depending on the size of the hard drive, the cost can be as low as $60. There are size limitations on external hard drives and often you have to remember to perform the backup. Some external hard drives allow you to set it up automatic backups, which allows you to keep one of your New Year resolutions without even having to remember. If you have a laptop and take it out of the house, you might want to consider this option to ensure that your documents are backed up in case your laptop is stolen or damaged.
A remote server is another secure way to backup your information. There a several companies that offer this type of service. The question we hear most often is “Is this safe”? If you choose a reputable company, then yes, it is a safe alternative for backup space. Your files are encrypted and there are security protocols in place so that no one can access your files without your login information. Other great features are that you have the ability to access your data on the web or on your mobile devices and the ability to set up automatic backups of your computer, so you don’t have to remember to do it manually. In the event that something catastrophic occurs in your home, this method is a good disaster solution since it is not in the same place as your physical computer. Two companies that we recommend are Carbonite and Mozy. For as little as $59.99 a year you have unlimited storage space. Many companies offer a free trial period.
No matter which of the options you choose, it is a decision that you will not regret. Start the New Year off with an easy resolution that you can keep.
Alisa Michael
With over 15 years’ experience in the legal arena as well as client management, Alisa brings her experience to Network 1’s team, clients and partners. She strives to be proactive in managing clients’ needs and expectations with an outcome of client satisfaction and retention.
amichael@network1consulting.com or 404.997.7637
Network 1 Consulting is a 16-year-old, IT Support company in Atlanta, GA. We become – or augment – the IT department for professional services companies: law firms, medical practices and financial services firms. Our IT experts can fix computers – but what our clients really value are the industry-specific best practices we bring to their firms. This is especially important with technology, along with regulations and cyber threats, changing so rapidly. We take a proactive approach to helping our clients use technology to gain and keep their competitive advantage.
