You’re probably familiar with the sensation -- a sick, sinking feeling when you realize you've lost valuable personal information or other online data. No matter how careful you are, it's something that happens to everyone. Often it's for technical reasons entirely outside our control.
What happens next, however, is completely up to you. If you back up your data, you can easily retrieve a copy. If you fail to back it up...well, maybe that data you lost will miraculously reappear, right?
That is the situation that awaits anyone who doesn't take precautions. Yet many of us consistently fail to take even the most basic backup measures.
Luckily, there's an app for that -- a way forward for even the most backup-averse among us.
The "Set It And Forget It" Era Of Data Backup
It wasn't too long ago that data backup was a fairly laborious process that involved floppy disks and other obsolete storage devices. These days, fortunately, backing up data requires nothing more than a few button presses or keystrokes.
That easy accessibility hasn't ushered in a golden age of perfect data backup, however. Many of us still choose to work without a safety net, as even the smallest outlay of time and effort often leads to procrastination.
As mentioned above, modern technology is hard at work solving that problem for us. There are several options available that render the backup process so seamless as to make procrastination a non-issue.
Dropbox is one such app-based solution. It offers a set level of free cloud-based storage to users, then charges fees on a sliding scale as storage needs increase.
The mechanics of Dropbox make file backup virtually foolproof. You can set the app to automatically upload your data to their servers as soon as that data is created. Snap a photo or create a file, and Dropbox will automatically upload a copy.
Apple's Time Machine is another simple solution to the problem of file backup. It provides comprehensive backup and restore functions to your Mac, and requires very little effort to set up. The interface is a snap, and Time Machine will create regular, automatic system backups as soon as it's enabled.
These backup and storage solutions operate on a brilliant premise: If people don't back up their files consistently, just have them opt in once, and make the process automatic.
While these are two of the most popular backup products in the market, you have a wide range of apps to consider. If you're looking for something more tangible, you may always opt for an additional external hard drive -- or two. Just don't keep them in the same place.
Whatever approach suits you best, just make sure your backup and storage settings are comprehensive and in working order.
Do that, and you'll never have to hammer your keys in data-losing desperation again.