Backup

Backup refers to making copies of files as an alternate in case the original data is lost or becomes unusable. Backups are used primarily for two reasons, restoring data following a disaster (disaster recovery) and restoring a number of files after they have been accidentally deleted or corrupted. Due to hardware crashes, regular backups are necessary to prevent suffering from permanent data loss.

Serious data loss can be caused by hardware or software failure. Hard drives rely on moving parts to access data and like all electronic devices, they can malfunction and become unrecoverable. Even if your hardware doesn’t fail, your operating system can. Software corruption can damage your files, just like viruses or system malfunctions.

Regular backups can be managed with special software. You will also need an external device, like a flash memory device or external hard drive. Backup software can handle everything from copying individual folders to creating whole images of your hard drive. There are also internet services which offer online backup space.

Regular backups are very important, most people don’t realize the importance of having a backup until it is too late. So, please ask your self: “What if my hard drive would crash in the next hour?” If you have a bad feeling, go backup!