Essential Computer Backup Strategies

Don't let an unexpected disaster stop you in your tracks. Follow these tips to keep your computer data safe no matter what

By Pete Silver, Entrepreneur.com

Your computer will crash. Your notebook may be stolen. Your computer files can be permanently corrupted. Accept these facts, and you can plan accordingly. But pretend "It only happens to other people," and you're going to be crying the blues.

As a professional writer, I'm heavily dependent on my PC. Your dependence on retrieving information stored in your PC may be just as great. Here are the secrets to my peace of mind--readily available products and services that won't cost you a fortune. As a survivor of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, I can attest you'll sleep a lot better at night with a backup plan in place.

When any disaster strikes, the first question your PC repairperson will ask you is, "When's the last time you backed up your data?"

Seldom do they hear the correct answer. Instead, victims of hard-drive crashes, viruses and other hazards of computing stammer and stutter about "forgetting to make a back up copy." Don't be one of those people! Today's solutions are so inexpensive--and take practically no time at all.

For large businesses, the answer to backing up data can be expensive and complicated. It can involve tapes, off-premises servers and other complicated technologies.