This has happened to more than a few businesspeople. In extreme cases, it has put companies out of business. And the worst part is this: It's completely avoidable. By backing up your data, you can retrieve all or most of what you lose.
Yes, yes, I hear some of you snickering about the hassle involved. Indeed, there is a hassle involved. But you owe it to yourself -- and your business -- to take stock of your backup plan (or lack thereof) by reviewing these tips. Most Important: Back up Your Customer Databases and Payroll Records
What's the heart and soul of your company? People have different opinions, but certainly your customer or client database has to rank high.
Inside one or two data files are all the nitty-gritty details including what they buy, when they buy, how they pay and so forth. Contact lists also are databases, and you might have yours combined with your customer list.
So, where would you be if you lost your database? How would you feel if you attempted to open your database and it wasn't there? Not good, I'll bet. So you should be backing up your database.
Also mission-critical for backups are your employee payroll records. You don't want to lose the information that you have to report to the Internal Revenue Service. Your employees don't want problems with the IRS, either. And they certainly don't want to be paid late.
Here are a few options for backing up your data in the form of a hard copy:
For anyone who uses a computer on a regular basis, data backup is very important. When you backup your data, you are storing your files on a disk or drive separated from your primary computer. In this way, if anything occurs to your computer or damage comes to your file on the computer, then you still have your data in backup so that you can restore it onto your original machine or another machine. This allows you to keep your data even if great damage comes to your computer. No one wants to have their system crash and then discover that all of their data is gone because they made no backups.
There are many methods for backing up your data. All that is required is to store your information on a drive or disk separate from your primary computer. If you operate on a home LAN system, for example, you can transfer your files to the other computers on your network and in this way ensure that even if one computer fails you will still have your files on another computer. There are also online backup systems where you can store your data on an online server.
The large corporations that determine how economically progressive we are, use data for their every function. In fact, there are several instances when corporations which have lost large volumes of data, have had to wind up. Considering data is so important, it is rather troubling that data loss is rampant. Over the years, companies have spent vast amounts of money in securing data as much as possible. Even common users have begun to understand the importance of backing up data.
Backup
Data backup is an integral function that every computer user has to carry out religiously. Data loss can occur at the most unexpected times and can be catastrophic and expensive. There is no best time to back up data except it is best to back up files as and when they are created to keep memory constantly up to date. If that is too time-consuming, one should at least back up data at the end of a day's work. One must also check the backup media used on a regular basis to ensure that it is not corrupted. Also, most backup media have a limited shelf life; therefore, the best backup routine is to make backup of backups after a certain period of time.
What to Back up
Large corporations consider most data created within their organizations as requiring backup. There are mission critical files, which are backed up with great emphasis on security. Individual users, on the other hand, lay less emphasis on backup until, of course, they lose data that is precious. Rare is the case when a user hasn't faced data loss. For amateurs who don't know which data to back up and which they can afford to lose, there is a simple guideline; whatever one considers important should be backed up. A probable list of data that one might want to back up is as follows:
Address Book
Our address books are built over years of building contacts. There are social contacts, business contacts and utilitarian contacts. It is the means by which we remain in touch or connect with people who play some role or the other in our lives. Considering that we meet several people in our lives, it is almost impossible to remember every contact number or address. Therefore, an address book plays an important function. Losing address book data can be extremely problematic and inconvenient. We may not have any way of getting some numbers again. Address book data is definitely worth backing up and updating.
Photographs
Photographs are a window to our lives, a way we can recall some of the most precious moments we have lived. Wedding pictures, birthday photographs, special holidays, children's birthday pictures etc., give us a way to hold on to the memory long after the moment has past. Losing this data is almost like shutting the door on a wonderful past. Users, who have lots of digital photographs, should take care to back up at regular intervals, to ensure that the memories live on.
Songs and Video Files
Many users collect files of their favourite songs with a lot of care and effort. Searching for, downloading and finally storing are done painstakingly. Like photographs, even videos capture favourite moments. Losing both, can be heart-rending and while music can be collected again with some effort, losing the videos may not be so easy to revive. Therefore, it makes sense to back up these files.
Memoirs
Some people relive memories through memoirs or diary entries they make. They are deeply attached to the words they put down and nothing can replace them, if they happen to be lost. If a user stores thoughts on the computer, then it is absolutely essential that this data is backed up regularly.
Backup Media
Backup storage media come in varying sizes, shapes and prices. The market is flooded with external hard disks, CDs, DVDs, and USB drives. Increasingly, even online and remote backup is becoming extremely popular. Floppy disks were popular in the early days but storage needs have gone beyond what floppy disks could offer. As the volumes of data increase, the storage capacity of media gets bigger. Depending on a customer's needs and budget, the market has a suitable storage solution. For simple storage needs, CDs and DVDs are enough to do the job. If one needs a hardy and portable storage device, USB flash drives are the perfect solution.
Backing up data might seem a painful chore but it is even more painful if important data is lost. Therefore, it is wise for every computer user to take extra time out to back up important data.
Both Joe Camarda & James Walsh are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Joe Camarda has sinced written about articles on various topics from Information Technology, Data Recovery and Camping. Find out more about his expertise at. Joe Camarda's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.
James Walsh has sinced written about articles on various topics from Small Business, Binding Machines and Divorce and Infidelity. James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on see. James Walsh's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.