How To Keep Your Important Files Safe

By Author: Isabella Whitmore
Total Articles: 106
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Data loss can happen to anyone. It can be because of human error, drive failures, loss of device, natural disasters, or cyber-attacks.

One of the most common causes of data loss is human error. People regularly update files everyday especially at work. This can result to overwriting files or accidentally deleting the wrong file which can cause permanent loss of data. Pulling out a flash drive from a computer or turning off the device while a program is still running or in a saving process can also result in data loss. This can corrupt the files making them unreadable.

Another common reason of losing files is device failure. Computers are so fragile that sometimes they just crash for unknown reason. There are instances when they are working alright few seconds prior, then they just stop working. You decide to turn the device off then it wouldn’t turn on again. You’re lucky if you manage to fix the device and retrieve the files inside. However, there are many instances in which data can no longer be recovered when the device fail.

Natural disaster can also cause data loss. Floods, fires, hurricane, and ...
... other calamities can damage electronic devices. As mentioned above, when devices break down it would be difficult to retrieve data. Sudden power outage due to natural disaster can also result in lost files permanently especially when you are still running the file when the power outage happens. In addition, natural disasters can result to loss of device which means also losing the files inside.

You are probably familiar with cyber-attacks. Viruses such as malwares and ransomware can get into your computer system and encrypt your files. When this happens, the data becomes unreadable for computers. In the case of ransomware, they would ask huge amount of money to decrypt your files. But who knows if they can really return your files to how they were? You might just be wasting more money if you give them what they want.

Losing files is frustrating and can be a serious problem especially for businesses. It can cause major inconvenience that disrupts a company’s system. Data loss can also cause a lifetime regret for losing pictures and videos of memorable events. Like a family reunion, a wedding, an out-of-town vacation, a graduation day, or the first ever photo of your baby.
Good thing data loss is very avoidable. Thanks to technology, there are many ways to secure files.

You can save them in a flash drive which is very handy. It’s a thumb size device that is easy to use. You simply have to insert it in a computer to copy and save files. It is compatible with laptops and desktops or any device that has a USB port. A flash drive is great for storing all types of files: images, videos, documents, and others. However, these small devices have limited storage capacity. Ranging from 1GB to 2TB.

If you have a large number of files, you can use USB hard drives which have more storage capacity than flash drives. Ranging from 1TB to 18TB. Solid State Drive (SSD) is more recommended for backing up files since they don’t have moving parts. Unlike Hard Disk Drive (HDD). This means that SSD are less likely to get damaged than HDD.

Another Option for backing up files is Network Attached Storage (NAS). A device that allows automatic backup for multiple computers. Making it less hassle than using a flash drive or hard drive that requires backing files manually. NAS is great for backing up business files as it has large storage capacity. Some can accommodate up to 4 SSD or HDD. NAS storage can be access through the internet.

Last but not the least is cloud storage. Like NAS, this backup storage can be accessed online. But you don’t have to worry about natural disaster or device failure when saving files on a cloud because this storage doesn’t have a physical device that can be damaged, fail, or lost. A cloud storage also allows automatic backup. Its capacity depends on your chosen subscription. It ranges from 5GB which most cloud storage providers offer for free to unlimited storage which comes with a monthly or annual fee.

There is currently no method of single data backup that is absolutely dependable. Flash drives, hard drives, and NAS storages are susceptible to damage or loss. While cloud storages can be attack by viruses that can corrupt files. The best way to backup your data is to make 3 backup copies and put them on separate locations. For instance, having 2 copies on different hard drives then 1 copy on a cloud. This way, your precious files have a higher chance to survive in case of device failures, disasters, and cyber-attacks.

Isabella Whitmore likes to share tips about household, technology, health, and family. She works at https://electrickettlesplus.com, an appliance website that offers a wide selection of electric kettles.