The Paranoid’s Guide to Personal Backups
I’ll admit it – I’m a bit paranoid when it comes to backups. But you know what they say, just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you! And in the world of digital data, there are plenty of threats ready to pounce and wipe out your precious files.
You see, my digital life has become increasingly complex over the years. What started as a few gigabytes of photos and documents has now ballooned into over 25TB of storage [1]. Sure, that doesn’t mean I have 25TB of active data (yet), but managing all those files, photos, videos, and more has become a full-time job. Gone are the days of backing up everything to a handful of DVDs.
So how do I protect all this data, you ask? Well, let me tell you, it takes a multi-layered approach that would make even the most hardened FBI agent proud. It’s not just about having one backup – oh no, that would be far too simple. We’re talking redundancy, offsite storage, and more fail-safes than you can shake a (very secure) stick at.
Backup, Backup, Backup
The first rule of data protection is simple: never trust a single backup. As the wise saying goes, “RAID is not backup” [2]. Sure, those RAID arrays with their mirrored drives might seem like the ultimate in redundancy, but they’re just as vulnerable to disasters as a lone hard drive.
Think about it – if you accidentally delete a file, or a virus corrupts your data, that corruption will be happily mirrored across all those RAID drives. And what if there’s a power surge or a fire that takes out the whole RAID enclosure? Poof, there goes your data. No, we need something more robust.
That’s why I rely on a multilayered approach, with backups upon backups upon backups. It might sound excessive, but when it comes to safeguarding my digital life, I’m not taking any chances.
The Backup Hierarchy
Let’s start with the basics. I have a dedicated 2TB external hard drive that serves as my primary backup. Every night, Time Machine [3] faithfully backs up my entire system, making sure I can restore anything from a single file to the whole darn computer if disaster strikes.
But one backup is never enough. You see, hard drives can fail without warning, and I’m not about to gamble the fate of my data on a single point of failure. That’s why I have a second 2TB external drive that I use to create a second, independent backup. This one isn’t connected to my main system – it lives in a fireproof safe, ready to be activated if the unthinkable happens.
And that’s still not the end of it. Every few months, I take those two backup drives and make a third copy, which I store in a secure offsite location (a.k.a. my safe deposit box at the bank). This way, even if my house burns down or gets hit by a meteor, I’ll still have a way to recover my data.
The Last Line of Defense
But wait, there’s more! I’m not done with my paranoid backup scheme just yet. You see, I also use a cloud-based backup service to store an additional copy of my most critical files. While I may not trust the cloud with my entire digital life, I do appreciate the added security of having my data stored in a geographically redundant data center, far away from the hazards that could befall my local backups.
I currently use Backblaze [4] for this purpose, and I have to say, it’s been a lifesaver on more than one occasion. Whenever I make an important update to a document or add new photos to my collection, Backblaze is there to ensure those files are safely stored away in the cloud, ready to be restored at a moment’s notice.
Paranoia Pays Off
Now, I know what you’re thinking – this all sounds like a lot of work, and you’d be right. But when it comes to safeguarding my data, I’m not willing to take any shortcuts. After all, the alternative is the stuff of nightmares: losing everything I’ve worked so hard to create, from precious family photos to irreplaceable business records.
And you know what? My paranoid backup strategy has paid off time and time again. There have been numerous occasions where a hard drive has failed, a file has been accidentally deleted, or some other disaster has struck. But thanks to my multilayered approach, I’ve been able to quickly and easily restore the lost data, with minimal downtime and zero data loss.
The Backup Burden
Of course, maintaining this level of backup redundancy does come with its own challenges. Managing all those external drives, remembering to rotate them, and ensuring the offsite backups are up-to-date can be a real hassle. And let’s not forget the financial burden – those high-capacity hard drives and cloud storage subscriptions can really add up.
But you know what they say – the price of peace of mind is eternal vigilance. And when it comes to safeguarding my digital life, I’m more than happy to pay that price. After all, the alternative is just too devastating to even consider.
The Backup Payoff
So, there you have it – my paranoid guide to personal backups. It might seem like overkill to some, but trust me, when you’re staring down the barrel of a data disaster, you’ll be thanking your lucky stars (and your multiple backup drives) that you took the time to protect your precious files.
And the best part? The peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is safe and secure is priceless. No more lying awake at night, worrying about that one important file that could disappear in the blink of an eye. Instead, I can rest easy, secure in the knowledge that my digital life is as secure as Fort Knox.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to take your data protection to the next level. Start with a solid primary backup, then add in a second, offsite backup, and top it all off with a cloud-based solution. Trust me, your future self will thank you.
References:
[1] Antonio Romeo. “My Paranoid Guide to Personal Backups.” LinkedIn, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-paranoid-guide-personal-backups-antonio-romeo
[2] Pete Marovich. “Never Use a RAID as Your Backup System.” PeteMarovichImages.com, 2018. https://www.petemarovichimages.com/never-use-a-raid-as-your-backup-system/
[3] “Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac.” Apple Support. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250
[4] “Backblaze: Unlimited Cloud Backup & Cloud Storage.” Backblaze. https://www.backblaze.com/
