A Guide to Backing Up Your Data

Let’s have a little heart-to-heart: your digital life is kind of a mess. Not because you’re disorganized (ok, maybe a little), but because our devices have turned into full-blown time capsules.

Photos, ideas, voice memos from 2019, your best friend’s wedding video, that pitch deck you’re proud of, your grandma’s lasagna recipe, it’s all in there.

So the real question isn’t should you back up your digital life, it’s when.

Backing up your files doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be intentional. Why? Because accidents happen.

• Hard drives fail.

• Cloud backups glitch.

• Your computer does that thing where it restarts randomly and wipes everything you love.

If you’ve ever felt that gut-punch of losing something important like a client archive, family photos, or a brand folder, you know the stakes. A solid backup plan doesn’t just save files, it saves your sanity.

Where to Start: Hardware + Software

You need two things: hardware and software. One physical, one digital. Think belt and suspenders.

First, the gear.

Get an external hard drive. Either an SSD (solid-state drive) or an HDD (hard-disk drive). Quick breakdown:

• SSD: Fast, durable, silent, more expensive.

• HDD: Slower, cheaper, more storage, a little more fragile.

If you work with large video files, sensitive client data, or just want something super reliable, SSDs are the gold standard. But if you’re on a budget and need maximum storage, HDD still works beautifully, just handle it gently.

Next, the cloud.

Pick a cloud storage service that fits your life. Options range from basic to more robust solutions for businesses with multiple users and devices.

Things to consider:

• How much storage do you need?

• What types of files are you backing up?

• How much are you willing to spend?

Once you choose, install, sync, and set up a backup schedule. Daily is ideal, weekly works, but whatever you do, make it regular. Even the best backup plan fails if it’s never updated.

Pro tip: Choose a provider with real human customer service. If something goes wrong, you want someone to call, not a chatbot in beta.

Check In

You can’t just “set it and forget it.” Sorry.

Mark your calendar every quarter to check your backups. Make sure the files you think are saving are actually saving. Know how to restore them. Clean up clutter. Keep your systems tight.

If your external drive fails, your cloud backup will have your back. If your cloud subscription lapses, your external drive is still there. That’s the peace of mind you deserve because losing your digital life shouldn’t be a thing.

TL;DR

• Back it up.

• Check in regularly.

• Don’t let one corrupted drive take your business or your camera roll down with it.

You’ve got too much good stuff to lose.