Data is the most important aspect of your computer. The operating system can be reinstalled and so can applications, but it may be difficult or impossible to recreate your original data. It’s really not an “if” something happens, it’s “when”? Will you be prepared for the following scenarios?
1. Hardware Failure
Inevitably, your hard drive will die, and even an external hard drive isn’t safe from viruses or external destruction like water or drop damage. The average lifespan of a decent hard drive is 5-6 years, which is barely enough time to fill it with data.
Hard drive failure is the most common cause of data loss, both among professional and personal computer users, and once a hard drive fails, there is little chance of recovery. That is why it’s important to back up your computer regularly in order to protect it from hardware failure. When your files are backed up to the Cloud or other external server, they will be protected even when the hard drive is not.
2. Virus/Hackers
Software issues are another reason why computer back up is necessary. Viruses can be downloaded by accident by yourself, family members or maliciously sent to users in your office. Once they take hold, it can be difficult to have them removed without damaging your existing databases.
Hackers also implant viruses in order to gather important information, usually credit card numbers, passwords, or other classified information that can be used against you or your business. While there are actions you can take in the event of a virus, backing up your computer will protect your private information and also provide you with an extra level of defense against hackers looking to steal your information or identity.
3. Power Failures
Power failures and spikes can also result in destroyed files that can be difficult to recover. This is because power failure and spikes can completely fry your motherboard or hard drive, making it difficult and often impossible to recover destroyed files.
4. Deadly Downtime
In the event of a failure, recovering data is not always straight forward, and can take time. It is entirely possible that recovering data on a hard drive can take days, and it’s not even guaranteed that you can even recover all of your valuable date. Furthermore, restoring data on a server can take several hours. By the time data is recovered any windows of opportunity may have already passed by.
While a skilled computer repair specialist can recover the majority of lost files, there are times when destroyed files or deleted files simply cannot be recovered. When you take the time to periodically backup data, you can easily bring back the files that have been lost.
5. Humans are Known to Make Mistakes
Whether you accidentally spilled coffee on your laptop’s keyboard, you failed to update your virus protection or you simply pressed the “delete” key at the wrong time, you are human and you will make mistakes on occasion. While a computer repair specialist might be able to undelete files and recover destroyed files, you will rest a whole lot easier if you backup data before these problems ever occur. This way, you will save yourself money and heartache when all of your files are right where you left them on your backup device or server.
