Backing up? . . . Why is this so hard ?

 

This is one of life’s great mysteries.  We all know we need to backup our data but in almost all cases my clients tell me they simply don’t do it.  Why? It’s simple, we’re human and humans by nature procrastinate.  We wait and we wait.  This is built in to our DNA.  There must me some reason we were programmed this way.  Surely a discussion for another day. 

The problem is we are connected to machines now and machines fail, especially hard drives.  They are an amazing little machine but in time will fail that I can guarantee.

The simplest way to backup that I have found it through a cloud backup.  A cloud backup is a web based service that backs up your files as you place them on the machine.  As long as you are connected to the net and the computer is on it’s backing up. 

Personally I have been using this model for three years and have had zero problems.  I have many clients that have restored their data and were very happy with the results.

The service I like and recommend is Carbonite.  You know me I don’t recommend much and for the most part I stay away from any recommendations.  In this age of software  things come and go so fast that It’s hard to settle on anything.

Carbonite on the other have is one of those services I really like.  The reason is simple.  IT WORKS and I have no problems whatsoever. 

For $54.95 per year you get unlimited storage.  Not a bad deal considering we don’t buy film, develop film or drive to the store to buy Cds anymore.  Again I think we win here. 

Don’t think backing up your data is necessary.  Here is a real world case.  A client calls me and tells me their hard drive stopped spinning.  I came over and checked it out.  “Yep it’s dead” I said.  I checked with a lab that recovers data from dead hard drives and they quoted me over $500 to get the data back.  The client called Apple and ask if he could re-download his ITunes.  Guess what they said. . .  you would be right if you said “pound sand”  No way will Apple let you re-download your ITunes.  Please don’t get me started on Apple.  Never the less it’s possible to recover data from dead hard drives, but it’s very expensive. 

Keep in mind that Carbonite will only back up data.  It will not back up programs.  But this should not be a problem because you have those CDs anyway.

If you have multiple computers in the house I have a strategy that works great for backing up those as well under the same account. 

 

Do yourself a favor and get Carbonite today. 

Click on the image above for a 15 day free trail.  You’ll be glad you did.

 

Your comments are always important to me.  Please keep them coming.

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