When it comes to backing up your files and data on our iOS / iPadOS devices and desktops/laptops, it should always be online, automated and on auto-pilot as backups need to happen on a daily basis automatically and need to be stored in a separate location - a different premises from where the original files are located. It would be devastating to manage it ourselves on local drives - which is like an accident waiting to happen - as opposed to handing that task to a professional service provider who does it for a living - 24/7/365 using automated tools and infrastructure. Managing backups on our own is like hosting our website on our own home computer as opposed to using a hosting provider who has uninterrupted power supply, climate control, updates, email, database, S/FTP, security, daily backups, disaster recovery, support and so much more for a few bucks. How many files from how many apps can you backup manually and how regularly and consistently - without getting bored and without losing a day’s work? Individuals do not have the infrastructure, automation, time, patience or discipline to perform this repeating and critical task on a consistent basis. You will feel helpless when disaster strikes - you won’t understand the value of your data until then. Do you want to kick yourself or pat yourself? If you want peace of mind, read on...

MOBILE PHONES & TABLETS

To automate backups on iOS and iPadOS, we need to use iCloud which comes with a free 5 GB storage and pay for more storage when we cross the limit. Our iPhone and iPad get backed up automatically - it is worth much more than the storage price we pay them -







What does iCloud back up?




DESKTOPS & LAPTOPS

On the desktop, we can automate backups to a large extent using Google Drive app - just drag and drop files into the Google Drive’s folders in the Finder / Explorer or just save files to Google Drive’s folders directly and syncing between desktop and online storage happens instantly and automatically. Sync’ing works both ways - any files added/uploaded, deleted, renamed using the browser or Finder/Explorer also get sync’ed to desktop/online Google Drive folders automatically. However once we cross the 15 GB free limit, we need to pay for more -



I don’t trust Dropbox and other providers or their sustainability who offer just a paltry 5 GB of free storage for all the demographics they collect about us for their marketing gains. Remember, nothing is free.

With the above in place, you can have a sound sleep, knowing that your backups are handled by Pros even while you are asleep and you’ll never lose your precious files and data. Now that you have delegated and outsourced a task that is not your forte, you can LASER-FOCUS on your real work and accelerate your creations. And remember to always use a specialist / professional to perform any of your tasks that are not your forte and the results turn out timely, cost-effective, high-quality and simply amazing with no room for boo-boos or disasters. Apple and Google understood the criticality of backing up devices and nailed the process (mostly for upselling their iCloud/Google Drive storage services). Now, it’s our turn to utilize them properly to our benefit.

Your precious photos, videos, projects, files, documents and data are worth much more than just a couple of bucks a month!

HTH