Every week in our workshop we see people who've lost years of photos, important documents or work files because a hard drive failed without warning. Data recovery isn't always possible. A backup, on the other hand, is free or very cheap.
The 3-2-1 backup rule
- 3 copies of your data (the original plus two backups)
- 2 different media (for example, an external drive plus the cloud)
- 1 copy offsite (away from home — in the cloud, or at a family member's house)
In practice, this usually means: external hard drive + cloud.
Backup options
External hard drive or USB
The simplest option. The downside: a fire, theft or flood can take out both the computer and the backup. Also, many people simply forget to do it regularly.
Cloud (Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud)
Your files sync automatically and are available from any device. Google offers 15 GB free; for €1-2 a month you get 100 GB, plenty for most users.
Windows File History
Windows has a built-in feature that automatically backs up your documents, photos and desktop to an external drive. You can restore earlier versions of a file if you delete or change it by mistake.
Which files matter most?
- Personal photos and videos (irreplaceable)
- Work documents, invoices, contracts
- Passwords (use a manager such as Bitwarden)
- Databases from programs you use (accounting, management software)
Already lost data and had no backup?
Call us as soon as possible. In many cases we can recover your files — but the sooner we act, the better the odds.