Here’s a question we get all the time: what happened to the all the pictures I took on my phone? Here’s another one: where’s the most secure location to store my important files? What we find that our clients are really asking is: how do I backup my home computer and recover the files that I backup?

Whether you’re an avid photographer, accountant, music lover, or tech-savant, the answer to all of the above is:  you’re in charge! Do you have a digital storage system in place? If you don’t, no worries — we’re here to help you get organized.   

It’s not simply a matter of investing in the right product and keeping it safe, it’s a matter or staying on top of your stuff, and knowing how to access it as soon as you want it.

That’s the secret. The easiest way to retrieve your data is to organize it within folders so that you know exactly where it is because you put it there. When you enlist the help of storage devices or cloud services, all you have to do is upload your folders and, voila!

Let’s take a look at a few storage options —before you lose your pictures or patience, whichever comes first.  

For one, you can devote up to $100 a year to backup your home computer on an online storage service such as Carbonite or Google Drive. The trick here is to choose the platform that supports all of your devices: laptops, tablets, phone, etc.

Secondly, each of these services (iCloud, Google Drive, SkyDrive), offer a free version of limited storage. However, if you want to backup your entire home computer, you’ll want to spring for the upgrade option.

A third option for local backups is to use an external USB 3.0/eSATA/FireWire/Thunderbolt drive, or if the data set is small, a USB 3.0 flashdrive.

Lastly, what should you backup? Anything you can’t recreate, all of your business documents, artwork, memorabilia, and any purchased material (although those can always be re-downloaded from the online store you purchased them from).  

That’s everything you need to know, truly! Of course, if you have any other questions or would like a custom “solution” tailored to your needs and budget, contact us today! We’re happy to help out in any way we can.