Making a backup of our computer has become an almost essential function if we have very valuable information on our hard drive that we cannot lose. Our computer is an electronic device and therefore it is not without problems and failures which could delete important files. Also take into account possible human error or infection by viruses or Trojans. Any of these reasons are more than enough to seriously consider making a backup.
When making our backups we must take into account some aspects such as the types of backups that exist, what we must take into account when making them and what are the best available methods.
Types of backups
There are different types of backup copies, which we must choose based on the one that best suits our needs:
- Complete : it is about making a complete backup of 100% of the information that we have stored on our computer. It is also the slowest and time consuming option to complete, and is typically used by companies that cannot afford to lose a file.
- Incremental : this type of backup is used to make a copy of the files that have been modified since the last execution. In this way we avoid having to make a complete copy again, but simply the files that have been modified later.
- Differential : for when we already have a copy made and we only want to add some new files we have the option of differential copy. In this way, we can always keep it updated faster.
- Mirror : it is a type of copy very similar to the complete one, with the exception that the files cannot be compressed, so it will take up more space, in the same way that it will also be less secure.
Tips before backing up
Before starting to make backup copies, it is important that you decide what elements you want to make it. It is also convenient that you do them periodically and, if possible, you can have copies in different places.
Periodically backup
Although making a backup seems like a boring task, it is important that we do it regularly , especially based on the number of high-value files that we have on our computer. It is useless to have a backup if we do not update it and when we want to use it it does not have all the files that we would like.
What elements should we make a copy of
In our backup we must include all the data on our disk that may be highly relevant and that we cannot afford to lose. For greater speed and practicality we must ignore those that do not require importance or are easy to obtain by other means, in this way we will be able to have the essentials stored and not make a copy of everything, without actually needing it . If we save everything, not only will it be a slower and heavier copy, but then we will have to go looking for what we really need.
Have copies in different places
Having a single backup on a hard drive or in the cloud just doesn’t have to be enough. It is generally recommended to have copies in several accessible places . In this way, if you cannot access one for any reason, we can access another. For example, if we have a copy in the cloud, but we do not have an Internet connection, we cannot access it, but if we have it on an external hard drive, we can access it.
Methods for backing up
The best and most widely used methods to perform a backup, are to be performed on an external physical medium, in a cloud or in an online service, being complementary to each other, without necessarily one method being better than another.
Backup to external hard drive
If we have an external hard drive, it is possible to make a backup of our hard drive using the “Backup” function that is incorporated by default in Windows 10, without the need to resort to third-party applications. In this way we will have a cheap and fast copy. We can access it from “Settings> Update and security> Backup”. Here we click on “Add a drive” and select an external hard drive and Windows will make an automatic copy every time we connect it.
We can also use expert software such as Paragon Backup & Recovery or AOMEI Backupper , specialized tools that even have free versions that can help us with our work without having to pay for it.
Create a clone with all the information on the hard drive
For those who need to back up all the data, there is the possibility of cloning our hard drive . Cloning makes an exact point-by-point copy of the hard drive. In this way, when we want to restore again, we will obtain an identical result to the one we had when we made the copy. In this way not only files are copied, but all stored programs and data. For this we can use programs like Macrium Reflect .
Cloud Backup
Cloud storage systems are increasingly in fashion. Although they do not strictly make backup copies, it can be used to keep copies of all the most important files. In this way they become a good alternative to store our most precious files on the computer’s hard drive. We have well-known services such as Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive . Thanks to them we can have our files available and synchronize them with other devices such as mobile or tablet. Most cloud services have free versions. Thus, it will not be necessary to pay to have protected all our most important data against loss or deterioration of the hard disk.
Remote backup
Another way to perform a backup is to run them remotely . That is, through a system that generates online connections from our computer to a remote server. In this way it will load and store all the data that we have assigned to it from our computer to create the backup. This type of backup is mainly done by small companies or users with low data volumes. Backups are created automatically and at the frequency previously established. Applications like Backblaze or Carbonite are some exponents to perform backups remotely.
