How to backup data on a computer?
A backup of your own data is sensible and necessary. There are a few tricks
Regular data backup is mandatory but is neglected by many. But how does a backup work comfortably and with as little effort as possible?
Really everyone collects data, whether in a professional or private environment.
We store photos, important documents and much more on our computers and trust that the data is always available to us there.
But lightning, theft or simply a broken hard drive: There are many reasons why you should back up your data by performing a backup.
“There are two types of computer users: those who have already lost data and those who are about to lose it,” says Peter Muller from the specialist magazine “Macwelt”.
“That explains the need for data backup.” There are various options for storing photos, videos, documents and other files.
“The simplest method is certainly to connect a USB stick or an external hard drive to the computer and to pull the data from A to B via the Explorer”, explains Jan Schubler from the ct-trade magazine. The Explorer is the file manager of Windows, which can be opened with the key combination Window and E.
Techboke explains how best to back up data from the computer and what else should be considered when it comes to backups.
3 ways to backup data on your computer
The 3-2-1 rule
Ideally, you always back up your data several times to be on the safe side. “I generally recommend the 3-2-1 rule,” says Schubler. That means:
3 – Three versions of the data, including the original and then two copies.
2 – The backups should be stored on two different media types.
1 – A backup should be out of the house just in case. Possible places for this are online storage or the office.
This rule prevents most contingencies and gives you access to your data if both the original medium and one of the backups should fail.
Types of data backup
Users who do not always want to manually copy their data for backup can use software that automatically ensures continuous storage.
Examples of such software include EaseUS Todo Backup Free or O&O AutoBackup. Users can choose different methods for this.
A full backup is the simplest, but it can take an extremely long time and, above all, require a lot of storage space.
Differential data backup works differently. Only the data that has been changed or newly created since the last full backup is backed up – the individual backups now no longer take so long and the required storage space is smaller.
There is also the option of so-called incremental data backup. However, this always only makes a reference to the changes in the last backup performed. Compared to differential backup, this requires even less storage space and is even faster.
“Most programs are preconfigured so that they do not always create a complete backup of all data,” says Jan Schüßler.
So if you want to use backup software or already use it, you can assume that after a full backup, either the differential or incremental backup method will be used automatically.
This is important so that data backup does not become an annoying, complicated matter. The consequence of backup processes being too complicated is that many people leave it at the outset and this can be fatal if in doubt.
Backup for Mac and Windows users
For Mac, the Time Machine program can be used for data backup, which has been an integral part of the Apple operating system since macOS version 10.5 (Leopard).
To do this, turn on Time Machine and connect an external hard drive. “The first backup will take a while, then Time Machine will back up incrementally every hour,” says expert Müller from Macwelt. “Rule of thumb:
The backup hard drive should have at least twice the volume of the storage to be backed up.” The expert also recommends encrypting the backup. Alternatives to Time Machine are the free SmartBackup or the paid programs SuperDuper and Carbon Copy Cloner.
Since version 7, Windows has provided both data backup and a complete system image. This can be accessed under “Settings / Update and Security”, ideally also in conjunction with an external data storage device.
There are many alternatives to the Windows on-board resources – including the free programs Cobian Backup, Aomei Backupper Standard, Personal Backup or Paragon Backup & Recovery Free.
Anyone who comes up with the idea that they could also save their backup on an internal hard drive is in principle right.
That makes no sense – apart from the money saved for the external data carrier. If this one hard drive breaks, all data on it, including backup, is gone.
Data backups, therefore, belong on a second, external medium. The probability that two different storage media fail at the same time is very low.
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Data backups are neglected by many
Every third Internet user (34 per cent) is afraid of falling victim to ransomware.
But not even every second anxious user (44 per cent) regularly backs up their documents, photos or videos stored on the computer – even though imminent dangers such as the total loss of all data due to encryption and extortion trojans (ransomware) are well known.
This comes from a survey by Bitkom Research.
Around 54 per cent of those surveyed have already heard or read about ransomware and should, therefore, have to know that regular backups are the only effective protection against this type of malware. 1,010 internet users aged 16 and over were surveyed.