When faced with technical failure or an attack, be it against your business or personal network, having a set of data you can access to recover any lost data is the most valuable asset you have.

WorldBackupDay, which takes place annually on March 31, encourages everyone to perform a full backup of their device(s). There has been a huge increase in the number people who perform backups to keep their data safe, but there is still some room for improvement.

1. Are you performing backups on your device(s)? How often do you do this?

Ideally, perform smaller backups daily of your important files, and conduct a full back-up each week. This way, you’ll only ever lose a week worth of data.

READ MORE: Keeping on top of your digital hygiene

2. Do you test this to make sure you can access your data? If so, how often do you do this?

You should aim to test your backup every 3-6 months, just to be certain that you can retrieve your data if anything happens.

If you are struggling to get started with backing up your data, don’t fret, there are plenty of solutions that make this process pain-free.

Below are some options you can take for both Apple and Windows:

For Apple:

Time Machine – External Hard Drive

iCloud – Store data in the cloud

For Windows:

Windows Back-up – Update & Security > Backup > Add a drive

A solution such as Acronis allows you to perform and manage back-ups throughout your business

Have a Managed Service Provider (MSP) handle this for you

Your back-up approach doesn’t need to be complex, especially if you are just getting started. Focus on critical data first, then roll this out into a schedule.