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SIMPLE WAYS TO BACK UP COMPUTER DATA

If you love your digital data, you need to back it up; otherwise, you risk losing it for good! Here are some simple methods that will help you back up any computer.

1. Use an external drive.

This is the best solution for people who prefer to have full control over their data. Simply plug in an external hard drive that's got plenty of storage space, and then use the operating system's built-in backup application.

Don't forget that, on average, external hard drives will only last for three to five years, so be sure to replace them regularly. It goes without saying that you should replace your computer's hard drive as well.

SSD drives should last much longer, provided that you pick a model that's designed to have a long lifespan. Solid-state drives cost much less these days because manufacturers have managed to find intelligent ways to store more bits in a single memory cell, but this limits the number of read/write cycles.

To give you an idea, Triple Level Cell (TLC) SSDs can write data to a single cell about 5,000 times before starting to report reading errors, while Multi Level Cell (MLC) SSDs can push the limit to 10,000 times. For best results, choose SLC SSDs, the ideal option for people who can afford them, because these drives store a single bit per cell, and this increases the number of read/write cycles to about 100,000. Let's just say that a SLC drive has the potential to last several dozens of years, which is probably much more than most of us will ever need.

2. Use a cloud-based backup service.

Unlike local backups, systems that store your data online are supposed to keep it 100% safe, because many of them use redundant storage. If you are a regular computer user, who doesn't have more than a few terabytes or useful data, you will only have to pay a modest monthly fee for this service.

Many providers offer their own dedicated applications, which can work in the background, constantly monitoring the selected folders, and then uploading any new file to the cloud. Backblaze, Google Drive and OneDrive are amongst the most popular providers, and all of them do a good job.

To get started, set up free/trial accounts, and then test each service. Check out the upload and download speeds, the application's user interface, the supported file extensions, additional features, and so on. If you have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription, for example, you already have access to 1TB of storage space with your Office 365 Personal subscription, or to a whooping 6TB with the Office 365 Home plan.

3. Use a cloud-based file synchronization service.

Let's get this straight from the very beginning: Dropbox is the undisputed leader in that sector. If you are the type of guy or girl who needs to store files in a centralized location, which is available to several computers on the network, allowing several people to edit, create and/or delete files, a simple online backup application won't be good enough for you.

Dropbox helps you store files in a single place, and then have access to them using smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers. Anytime you make a change to a file using one of the registered devices, that change will be synchronized across the account/connected devices.

The service allows you to see a list with all the recent file changes and provides a collaborative environment for teams, including several dedicated tools: project timelines, to-dos, and more.

These are a few simple, and yet very effective ways to back up your digital data. For best results, you should always use a combination of onsite and offsite backups; this way, if something bad happens, you will still have at least a copy of your data in a safe location.