Back Up Your Important Files Regularly

A phone can be lost, a computer can fail, or ransomware↗ can lock your files. A backup↗ is the only reliable way to get your photos and documents back when that happens. Set it up once and it runs quietly in the background, asking almost nothing of you.

What should I back up?

• Irreplaceable photos and videos, your memories.
• Important documents: contracts, invoices, official paperwork.
• Work files, projects, and anything you've put real effort into.

The 3-2-1 rule

Simple but effective: keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy stored somewhere else (like the cloud). That way a single failure, theft or piece of malware↗ can't wipe out every copy at once.

Back up your phone

Android

• System backup: Settings → Google → Backup → "Back up now".
• Photos: Google Photos → profile icon → "Photos settings" → turn on "Back up".

iPhone (iOS)

• iCloud backup: Settings → [your name] → iCloud → turn on "iCloud Backup".
• Photos: Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Photos → turn on "iCloud Photos".

Computers and ransomware protection

• Copy important folders to an external drive or the cloud.
• Keep an offline copy: store at least one backup on a drive that isn't connected to the device, ransomware can't reach a disconnected disk.
• Automate it: use your operating system's built-in backup tools (File History on Windows, Time Machine on Mac) or a trusted cloud service.

Cloud or local disk?

Both have a place. Cloud backup is convenient, runs automatically, and protects your data even if something happens to the device itself. A local disk is fast for large files and doesn't need an internet connection. The most resilient setup uses both.

Test your backup

Occasionally restore a file to confirm your backup actually works. A backup that's never been tested may fail exactly when you need it.

Data without a backup is data waiting to be lost.

Related reading

Backup and Business Continuity Beyond the Basics

A backup that's never been tested for restoration, or an asset nobody knew existed, can undo months of planning. Here's how to build real continuity, not just a backup schedule.

Recognizing and Preventing Malware Infections

How malware actually gets onto your devices, the warning signs of an infection, and the everyday habits that stop most attacks before they start.