Backing Up Data

The 3-2-1 Rule and how to save your digital life.

Difficulty

Easy

Time Est.

30 Minutes

Tools Needed

  • External Hard Drive
  • Cloud Account

Step 1: The Cloud (Automatic)

The easiest backup is the one you don't have to think about. Enable **iCloud Backup** (iPhone/Mac) or **Google One/OneDrive** (Android/Windows). It costs a few dollars a month but is worth every penny.

Step 2: External Drive (Manual)

Buy a USB hard drive (WD or Seagate are good brands). On Windows, use "File History". On Mac, use "Time Machine". Plug it in once a week.

Step 3: Organize Photos

Photos are the most precious data. Don't just leave them on your phone. Install "Google Photos" (works on iPhone too) for free unlimited high-quality storage (mostly).

The Golden “3-2-1 Rule”

Professional IT experts swear by this rule for data safety:

  • 3 Copies of your data: (1 primary, 2 backups)
  • 2 Different media types: (e.g., one on a hard drive, one on the cloud)
  • 1 Off-site copy: (The cloud counts! If your house burns down, your USB drive burns with it. The cloud is safe.)

”Sync” vs “Backup” (Important!)

Google Drive/OneDrive are SYNC services, not true backups.

  • If you delete a file on your laptop, it deletes from the cloud too.
  • If you get a virus that encrypts your files, the encrypted files sync to the cloud.

True Backup (like Backblaze or Time Machine) keeps history. You can go back to “Last Tuesday at 3 PM” and restore a file you accidentally deleted.

Pro Tip: Test your backups! Once a year, try to actually restore a file from your backup drive. A backup that doesn’t open is just a paperweight.