How and why you should backup your digital life?

Intro: Most people don’t realize the different kinds of things they store on their PCs. Many people assume that their files will always be there to be readily accessed. Unfortunately, most of the time you don’t realize what you are missing until it’s gone.

What: The files you save on your home computer are often more valuable than you may think. Many people don’t realize this until they lose them. Music, films or videos you may have purchased online have a tangible financial value, but digital photographs, videos, emails and documents containing vital information may be irreplaceable if lost from your PC.

Why: Can you imagine losing your whole digital photo library – weddings, birthdays, holidays, baby’s first steps? Or your digital address book? How about important emails? Unfortunately technology is not fail proof, and you should always take precautions to ensure copies of your digital valuables are safely stored outside of your computer in the unfortunate event of computer failure, loss or damage.

How: Backing up your files needn’t be difficult, painful or time consuming and there are several options available to suit different preferences. Backup can even be automated to ensure that you don’t forget to do it and need never manually backup again.

Where:

• Physical backup: To external hard drives, CD/DVDs, Blu-Ray, USB keys or partitions within your PC. This is usually a manual process where you need to select the files you want to backup, and physically copy them to the backup device. There are backup products, such as Norton Ghost, that are generally for fairly technical users to create restore points and more actively manage what is on their attached or networked backup drive.
  
  PROs: Relatively easy to do if you are familiar with recording or copying data; Backup speeds may be faster; Storage can be cheaper on a large external hard drive.
  
  CONs: Manual copies can be time consuming and not consistent; You need to remember to make a backup; Not a simple solution for less technical computer users; Physical backup devices are more prone to failure, loss, damage, and theft so consider breakage and replacement costs as well as the security of those files should you lose your drive or USB key; For most users, large external hard drives are often not accessible from remote locations

Online backup: To online backup services, such as Norton Online Backup, which are Web-based, meaning that the backed up data is stored virtually and available to restore to your computer/s in any location at any time.

PROs: Does not require you to purchase any backup devices (external hard drives, CD/DVDs, USB keys); Does not require technical ability; By default backs up your important files automatically and daily when you log onto the Internet without fuss or user interaction; Offers an additional layer of assurance that your data is safe and not vulnerable to loss or destruction; Data is stored professionally and securely; Data can always be securely accessed via the Internet whenever needed, even if you have lost your computer.

CONs: Requires an annual subscription to use; Speed is limited to the speed of the computer and the speed of the Internet connection, but Norton Online Backup is optimized for speed, meaning that only changes and new files will need to be backed up on an ongoing basis.

Norton’s advice on backing up: Our computers have in many ways become a central part of our lives and the way we create, store and share information, memories and important information. Backing up your digital valuables is not an option, it is a requirement. Think of backup as ‘life insurance’ against potentially losing valuable information, forever. Choose a solution that works best for you, requires the least amount of your personal time and involvement, and offers you the peace of mind that your data will be safe and available to you at any time, from any place. Consider a solution that automatically and regularly backs up your files.

Consider Norton Online Backup:

• Secures valuable files against data loss, damage and other disasters;
• Delivers 25 gigabytes (GB) of online storage - approximately enough space to store more than 6,000 songs, 7,000 digital photos, 100 hours of video content or 200,000 spreadsheets;
• Provides quick access and restoration of lost or deleted files to any Web-enabled computer;
• Can be used on up to five family PCs;
• Offers centralised and secure storage for all your photos and files across multiple PCs;
• Automatic backup set to your preferences;
• Offers remote management of backup settings from any Web-enabled computer
• Available now for purchase through the Symantec online store at www.symantecstore.com.
• The suggested retail price for Norton Online Backup is £49.99 per year, which includes 25 GB of online storage to backup files from up to five of your family PCs. Additional storage space can be purchased in increments of 10, 25, 50 and 100 GB