Make sure your info is safe

Information technology is everywhere, a vital component in every modern culture.

Our entire way of life depends largely on the uninterrupted functionality of this technological infrastructure.

Our transportation systems, schools, health care, business, communications, entertainment, and just about everything else hinge on it.

Given our reliance on this infrastructure, it's scary to imagine what would happen in the event of catastrophic failure.

What would happen?

Failures are inevitable and occur on a regular basis. But, thankfully, the systems were designed with multiple fail safeguards. For the most part, they often go unnoticed, and have minimal impact on our day-to-day lives.

While I'm confident that the underlying infrastructure has been largely implemented to withstand potential failures, the same cannot be said of our own personal and business computers and devices.

We are storing more and more data on our computers, smart phones, tablets, game consoles, etc.

Given the inevitability for systems to fail and the importance of our data, you would think that implementing a backup system would be a common consideration for most, but it's not.

It's been my experience that more often than not, most people rarely consider the possibility that their devices may at some break down and stop working, resulting in a partial or complete loss of their data. The consequences of which can be potentially devastating.

Once a device fails, the success, time and cost involved in recovering the data depends on many different factors. Data recovery resulting from software failure typically have the best outcomes, and require the least amount of time and cost.

Hardware failures on the other hand are usually much more complex and have less successful outcomes. Hardware recovery also takes considerably longer and is much more expensive, as it often requires the use of special equipment and facilities located mostly in bigger urban areas like Vancouver.

The average cost of software data recovery typically ranges from $75-$150 depending on the amount of data and can be done same day or overnight. Hardware data recovery can easily reach $1,000-$1,500 or more, and take several weeks or even months.

Unfortunately, trends still haven't changed much over the last several years and I'm always amazed at how many people continue to use their computers and devices without any backup for their data.

If I received a dollar for every home or business owner who's called me asking for help to recover their data from a failed computer or phone, I'd be rich. While I've helped many people successfully recover their data, I would much rather prevent it in the first place.

I've been reiterating for years that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to your personal or business data. Implementing a reliable backup system is simple and very affordable compared to the risk and potential cost of not doing so.

There are many affordable and easy-to-use portable and online backup solutions to suit every type of device and computing platform.

If your interested in learning more about a back-up system for your home or business, call me for a free consultation.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.