Imagine if your computer were lost, stolen, damaged, or just simply decided not to work anymore. What would you do? How would you access the content you had saved on it?  Do you have a backup?

The same goes for your cell phone and any other electronics you use on a daily basis. We’ve all known the panic of losing or breaking our cellphones and how frustrating it would be to have to somehow recover all of the information on it. That is IF the information was even recoverable.

It Could Happen To You

The question is no longer “if” you’re going to lose data, but “when.” Electronics break down, stop working, or get lost or stolen all the time. Here are some staggering statistics that might encourage you to take part in backing up your data:

• 30% of people never back up anything
• 113 phones are lost or stolen every minute of every day
• 29% of electronic disasters are caused by accidents
• 1 in 10 computers is infected with a virus every month

World Backup Day began as a way to remind us all that we need to back up everything we do so that it’s not lost.

History of World Backup Day

World Backup Day began in 2011 as a way of reminding everyone of the importance of backing up your files and content.  We will celebrate World Backup Day on Saturday, March 31.

You Can Participate – Here’s How

Are you ready to participate and make sure all your data is safe and protected? If so, here’s how:

• Check with your cell phone provider about backup options.

Many now have an app that can be installed directly on the phone to backup all your contacts, photos, and text messages to their cloud provider so that they can be easily reinstalled should something happen. Your apps can be re-downloaded directly from the Play Store or iTunes, depending on which service you use.

• Use a cloud service.

A cloud service provides backup of all your computer data offsite so it’s easily protected and available. Some cloud services, such as Amazon, have apps for both your desktop/laptop and cellphone to allow you to back up all your data on a regular basis (daily is preferred) and sync across devices. This includes photos, documents, music, and videos. You can even set up your cloud service to do automatic backups so you don’t have to think about it.

• Save important data to a thumb drive.

If there are files you need access to on a regular basis and on short notice, save them to a thumb drive as well as the cloud so that you can access them easier.

• Take the Pledge

On World Backup Day, pledge to back up all of your important documents, files, software, photos, videos, music, and anything else on your devices so that it’s safe and sound should something happen to your device.  You can take the pledge to back up your data by going to the site, World Backup Day.

• Tell Your Friends

Encourage your friends about the importance of backing up and encourage them to protect their data!

Join Me

So join me in celebrating World Backup Day on March 31.  We will all feel better if we know our data is backed up.