Things to Consider When Planning Backups

Things to Consider When Planning Backups

In this article AJR look at Things to Consider When Planning Backups

Important personal, business, and organizational files are lost every day due to drive failures, accidental deletion, or other unexpected events. This often leads to much stress and anxiety and probably loss of revenue for a business. A computer’s hard drive is not indestructible; it is a matter of when will it fail, as opposed to would it fail? This is why it is so important to regularly back up your data.

Backup Location

Ideally, you should have a copy of all your important files in a different computer or using a different device. It would not be helpful either to have your backup files stored on an external hard drive that is constantly connected to your computer. Extenuated circumstances like a robbery, fire, or a flood would not spare the external hard drive.

What to Backup

Most people will backup their pictures, videos, music and MS Office documents. However, you also need to keep a backup copy of the programs already installed on your computer for easy reinstallation. While you cannot simply backup the installed programs in Windows and restore them to a new computer or hard drive, you can backup the installers used to install them originally.  For programs installed from a CD or DVD you can create backup images of those discs in case they get lost or damaged.

One particularly important program you should backup is the backup program itself. Also, make sure you save its serial number and those of other programs in a secure place that you can easily remember. If the computer is used for business, you will need to backup information from your financial software, customer databases, inventory control, and other special business files.

When to Backup

If you create documents on a daily basis, it is advisable to run your backup program at least once a day. This will allow you to easily recover a lost file with a click of button in case you accidentally delete it or if the program crashes while working on it.

It is important to carefully choose a backup program based on your work needs. For instance, a writer working on a draft may wish to review an earlier version of the draft. In such a case, a program that allows for incremental backup would be appropriate to restore an earlier version of the document.

Alternatively, we can set you up with on premise backup and our AJR Cloud Backup Solution, which will automate your backups for you.

Andrew Marriott
Owner & Founder at AJR Solutions
I am a technical & creative guy who loves technology. From a very young age, I have had a passion for technology, website / graphic design and photography. I work hard & play harder, I’m driven and full of enthusiasm with a passion to help others. Technology, digital design, web development & creative photography are areas I am really passionate about.

In the past i have worked for a leading IT Solutions & Managed service provider in Rotherham dealing with a range of IT platforms, such as - on site field engineering and remote support, dealing with all types of servers such as Virtual & Physical, Hyper–V, VMware, Windows server 2012 R2, SBS - Small Business Server 2008 2011, SQL, Terminal, Exchange, Active Directory, Group Policy, TCP, IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, RDP, hybrid & cloud, Office 365 and managed security solutions such as Antivirus and Spam filtering.

Prior to this, I worked for Wickersley School & Sports College as the Lead IT & Network Technician and also supporting local primary schools with IT Support and engineering visits & Project Management, while also running my own company AJR Solutions, providing IT & Creative Solutions.

I’m very creative and have a huge passion for design and love how design can have a massive impact on a business image, presence and value also visit -

www.thelogocreative.co.uk | www.ajr-designs.co.uk | www.rotherhamwebdesign.co.uk

Also part of the AJR Solutions Group of businesses.