Prashanth
3rd March 2010, 08:01 PM
Once upon a time, everything we had was written in paper and stored in files. With the introduction of computers and digital technology, the change though gradual has happened in a big way.
While once upon a time we used to take photos in a very limited quantity since cost was a major factor determining the reasoning as to whether we should take a picture or not, today we take pictures without care for whether they are really worth or not. After all, being digital, all that is needed is space to store. Maybe some day we may find the time to browse them and appreciate our skills in photography.
Same is the case with documents. Earlier, every document (important ones) had a copy which was filed and stored securely. Now since a lot of work is done through the Internet, we store them on the computer itself.
While computers are fairly robust in storing any data (Pictures, Movies, Data, etc), once in a while something bad happens and that can destroy years of work in a glance.
Which is why its important to take regular backups of everything we feel is important so that if one fine day, our computer decides to end its life, we are not left repenting loss of thousands of hours of work.
Even though most of us know that we need to do regular backups, the fact is that many, if not most of us, don't do it. We feel safe that there is no need to waste money on backup's since we have never experienced a crash and its unlikely to happen. What if it happens. Is one prepared to loose everything. Its one thing to loose data that can be purchased, but what about Photographs, Important Letters, mails.
While there are various modes to backup data, the cheapest way to secure your data would be to burn the data into a DVD on a regular basis. By doing this, you can be certain that even if your system burns out, all that you loose is the work / data that was not backed up from the date of last backup.
Frequency: Not everyone needs to back up his or her files on a daily basis. Depending upon your work, you can do it either weekly once or even risk it to a monthly once.
Backup is something like Insurance. You buy Insurance not because you believe something will happen to you but to guard against such unforeseen eventualities. Similar is backups. End of the day, nothing may happen, but why take the chance when taking a backup costs not more than a plate of breakfast at any hotel.
While once upon a time we used to take photos in a very limited quantity since cost was a major factor determining the reasoning as to whether we should take a picture or not, today we take pictures without care for whether they are really worth or not. After all, being digital, all that is needed is space to store. Maybe some day we may find the time to browse them and appreciate our skills in photography.
Same is the case with documents. Earlier, every document (important ones) had a copy which was filed and stored securely. Now since a lot of work is done through the Internet, we store them on the computer itself.
While computers are fairly robust in storing any data (Pictures, Movies, Data, etc), once in a while something bad happens and that can destroy years of work in a glance.
Which is why its important to take regular backups of everything we feel is important so that if one fine day, our computer decides to end its life, we are not left repenting loss of thousands of hours of work.
Even though most of us know that we need to do regular backups, the fact is that many, if not most of us, don't do it. We feel safe that there is no need to waste money on backup's since we have never experienced a crash and its unlikely to happen. What if it happens. Is one prepared to loose everything. Its one thing to loose data that can be purchased, but what about Photographs, Important Letters, mails.
While there are various modes to backup data, the cheapest way to secure your data would be to burn the data into a DVD on a regular basis. By doing this, you can be certain that even if your system burns out, all that you loose is the work / data that was not backed up from the date of last backup.
Frequency: Not everyone needs to back up his or her files on a daily basis. Depending upon your work, you can do it either weekly once or even risk it to a monthly once.
Backup is something like Insurance. You buy Insurance not because you believe something will happen to you but to guard against such unforeseen eventualities. Similar is backups. End of the day, nothing may happen, but why take the chance when taking a backup costs not more than a plate of breakfast at any hotel.