Back it up! Why Backing Up your Data is Important

Your computer is such an important part of your every day life. You work on your computer. You play on your computer. All of your important documents and cherished memories are stored on it-but what happens when it craps out on you? You loose it all! You don't want to misplace that important information and simultaneously trigger a heart attack do you? Of course not! That's why we're going to show you why it's important to back up your data and how you can do it.

We've heard all of your excuses when it comes to backing up your files. My computer will never crash! Right, and we're going to live forever and Bill Gates will finally return our calls. Nope. Not gonna happen, buddy! Every computer has an expiration date. If you're lucky... sometimes you can bypass a huge crash in time to save your files. However, life happens and you can loose everything on your computer in the blink of an eye. All someone needs is a glass of water and a thirst for revenge.

But I don't know how to back up my computer! Excuses! Excuses! There are so many options when it comes to backing up your data. There is no excuse! Start backing up your files today. It's a smart decision that will save you a lot of damage and heartache if something bad happens to your computer.

So, where do we begin first? Well, you should prioritize your information. Are there a few folders on your computer with significantly important information? Let's start with that. You can set up file-syncing services that will automatically back up your data onto internet-accessible storage. We suggest using Dropbox. Sign up is free, and you get 10GB of space right off the bat. That's the perfect size when backing up a certain amount of data and not your entire computer. The best part about Dropbox is that every time you introduce your friend to the service-you get more storage!

Cloud based storage is perfect for files that you need to access all the time. If you're a Mac user, iCloud is a great way to save your information. Any data you store onto the cloud is hosted on a server that's entirely separate from your computer. That way, if your house were to fly away in a tornado-- your data will be safely stored on the cloud. No fuss. No muss. You can find an extensive list of paid online backup services. Online backup services can cost anywhere from $50/yr.-$10/mo. but the piece of mind is totally worth it.

Don't be afraid to use a USB drive every once in awhile. Working on a big project for an important client? Back it up on a USB drive. You'd hate to loose all of your work right before the big presentation. USB drives are inexpensive and pretty reliable. You just need to make sure you're taking care of them as well as your computer. If you drop a USB drive into the toilet you might as well flush your data down the drain with it. External hard drives are also a great option, but they're not as portable as your standard USB. These big bulky drives are great for backing up your entire computer. So if you can't bare the thought of parting with anything on your machine pick up an external hard drive and start saving right away. Network Attached Storage is another great option for backing up your files. NAS storage devices are a lot like external hard drives but they're often wireless and have the ability to back up more than one computer.

Stop procrastinating and making up excuses when it comes to backing up your information. You don't want to loose all your files over a stupid mistake. Your computer isn't just a place to play solitaire anymore-your entire life is on that machine. Don't you want to make sure that data stays safe? So back it up!