Until recently, there were very few options for saving data. You either had to connect to your computer an external drive or use a network drive. Things have changed drastically in the past few years. Your data is important and saving it is a necessity. But to generate these data, you need software like operating systems, applications and other tools. Remember, backing up data is as important as creating it. It is something you cannot turn a blind eye on.

PC backup should be on a schedule and automatic. You can use a tool like ottomatik to ensure your backed files are not on your premises so that you can minimize the complete loss of data in case of a disaster like an earthquake.

Below are six points you should consider before you backup your personal computer. Use them so that you can have a peace of mind and assurance that even you lose your computer, all the data you had on your old PC will be available whenever you need it.

1. Backup PC to share data

When you backup your PC, it is the data you are saving. The aim of backing up a personal computer is to ensure that, should disaster strike, or your computer breaks down, you can continue with your business seamlessly in another PC. You will not have to reinstall all your programs when you buy another computer. Installing programs and applications in every new machine can be an expensive and time-consuming venture.

2. Do not back up all software

Unlike the old days when the installation was done manually, some software and applications run on their own. You only have to sign up in software like Google Docs, iTunes, Streams, and many others. Since you can sign in any computer, there is no need to back them up.

Before you backup your PC, you, therefore need to take an inventory of all software and decide what you need to backup and what you do not. In a nutshell, you need to back up what you cannot find elsewhere if your computer completely breaks down.

3. Use of external drive

Use of the external device is a simple and straightforward way of backing up your PC. Just plug in an external drive in your PC and back it up with corroboration with the computer backup features. You can choose to backup automatically or connect and backup when the need arises. Using external drive is affordable to many enterprises. Using an external drive will require a storage facility and personnel to manage it.

4 Use Internet

The internet-backed software is safer than backing in external storage. You can access internet backed software faster and in any place unlike in external storage. Since no additional hardware is required, it is cheaper than using an external storage device. It is also quicker and efficient to backup and retrieves software saved via the internet than those saved offline.

5 Cloud storage

You can also backup your PC in cloud storage. Here, you will be able to access your information fast and seamless. If you are using such services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft One Drive you can store a lot of data online. Online data will save your hard drive much-needed space. You can also use a thumb drive for backup if the storage is adequate.

6 Make your PC backup automatic

You don’t have backup your PC each an every time you install a new program. Automatic backup can be hard especially if you are using external storage. Set your computer always to backup programs when installed. Backup after installation will save you a lot of time and eliminate unintentional failures.

With increased data build up in your business, there is a need to backup your PC in case of any eventuality. A computer can break down, someone can steal it, or somebody can accidentally delete all files. There is, therefore, a great need to backup your computer so that in any case your business will not be affected. Since PCs have become more affordable and their storage has increased, it is now secure but imperative to backup PC. Remember, the files, pictures, presentations, and software you have spent years making can disappear in a moment.