When your data calls for backup, will you be ready?? 3-2-1…backup now!

"Backup! We need backup" is a phrase that has been often heard in many films. It is generally a call for help in a desperate situation when someone comes under attack. That phrase can also apply to many things in life, especially when it comes to our digital lives.

We have become increasingly reliant on digital formats, as we now depend on technology for tasks ranging from the seemingly trivial (booking seats for a film show on a portal) to essential (paying bills online) tasks. This has also led to greater dependence on digital files- from photographs to office files to essential identity documentation. However, while digital life is in the moment and is convenient, it can also be complicated.

As we gather more and more content, the risk of losing data is very real and more common than one might think. Accidental deletions, device losses or malfunctions, and cyber threats can leave us without our data. Fortunately, all of this can be tackled if we just follow a 3-2-1 backup strategy. The 3-2-1 backup strategy is pretty simple. One should have three copies of the data, saved on two different types of media, and one of the copies should be stored off site in a different location.

The rationale for this is simple - your data does not stay on a single device or medium (phone, tablet, PC, SD card, USB drive, etc.) or location and is therefore better protected. If even one device goes missing, you can always recover your data from another.

So, if your notebook crashes or gets stolen, you can recover the data that was backed up on a flash drive or portable SSD.

This is where portable and versatile backup solutions come into play.

A portable backup solution can not only allow you to keep your data on a different medium but also gives you the option to store it at a different location altogether. And unlike in the past, when the backup process was complicated and time consuming, modern backup solutions are now more easily accessible, simple to use and designed to meet different user requirements and budgets.For example, the SANDISK Extreme® Portable SSD is a phenomenal solution for anyone looking to get a backup device that fits into their mobile lifestyle, offering fast speeds and portability. It is smaller than a smartphone, and can slip into a trouser pocket, but can store up to a whopping 8 TB¹ of data, has USB 3.2 Gen 2 support and comes with up to 1050MB/s² read and 1000MB/s² write speeds. A USB Type-C® connector and multiplatform compatibility make backup as easy as plug and play, while up to three-meter drop protection and IP65 rating keep it safe from dust and water³. Content creators who need to back up their valuable content even as they create it can use the SANDISK® Creator Phone SSD, a MagSafe®-compatible portable SSD which can attach to the back of an iPhone®, with up to 2TB1 storage, and up to 1000 MB/s² read and 950 MB/s² write performance. It also comes with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface and a USB Type-C® connection. At 54 grams, it is light enough to be kept connected to an iPhone® and it even comes with drop protection and dust resistance as well. An effective backup solution is not only about hardware, but also software that enables users to smoothly back up data and even restore it when needed. Sandisk's solutions include the SANDISK® Memory Zone™ app, which can be programmed to automatically backup data (because hey, we forget), and even allows you to choose which backup you want restored. It works across several platforms, including mobile devices as well as notebooks and computers.

Backups keep your data safe and allow you to transfer data to new devices and recover from data loss. All you need to do is to remember to back up your data regularly on different devices, ensuring that even if something goes wrong, you always have not just a backup plan, but literally the data itself. So, on this World Backup Day (31 March), follow the 3-2-1 strategy, and make sure your data exists not just on a primary device but is also backed up.

Pick your solutions, do not keep them together, and use them regularly, and you will never have to desperately call for backup, as far as your data is concerned!This article has been contributed by Tareq Husseini, Senior Director, Sales, IMEA at Sandisk.References:

Disclaimer: The article has been produced on behalf of Sandisk by the Times Internet's Spotlight team.