A Backup Plan You Will Actually Keep Up
People rarely think about backups until something is lost. A modest plan made today is worth far more than a perfect one made after a disaster.
What deserves a backup
Photos, documents, tax and financial records, email archives, creative projects and anything you could not recreate. Programs can be reinstalled; memories cannot.
The 3-2-1 idea
- Keep three copies of what matters: the original plus two backups.
- Use two different kinds of storage, such as the computer and an external drive.
- Keep one copy somewhere else, for example in cloud storage or at a relative's home.
Tools you already have
- File History saves your personal folders to an external drive.
- OneDrive folder backup protects Desktop, Documents and Pictures in the cloud.
- Other cloud backup services can do continuous encrypted backup.
Syncing is not backing up
Sync tools copy changes, including accidental deletions and encrypted files caused by ransomware. Choose a service that keeps older versions, or add a separate backup.
Defending against ransomware
Ransomware locks your files and demands payment. A backup that is disconnected from your computer, like an external drive you plug in only when you back up, cannot be touched by it. Cloud services with version history help as well.
Test it
Once or twice a year, restore a few files to confirm the backup works. A backup you have never tried to restore is just a hope.
Make it automatic
Schedule backups so they happen without your effort. If you must do it by hand, set a monthly calendar reminder.
Where to start today
Buy or find an external drive, switch on File History or a cloud backup, and check that photos are saved in two places. That alone puts you ahead of most people.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. Menus, features and prices change between versions and regions. See our disclaimer.