Off-Site Backups

A backup stored beside your computer can help when a drive fails or files are deleted.  However, the computer and nearby backup could both be affected by the same fire, theft, flood or other serious event.

Keep a Copy Somewhere Else

An off-site backup is simply another copy stored in a different location.  For a home user, this might be a removable drive kept with a trusted family member.  A business might keep it at another office or in another secure location.

Use More Than One Removable Drive

Using two removable drives makes it easier to keep one away while the other is being updated.  The drives can be rotated so a separate copy remains available even when one drive is connected to the computer.

Choose a Suitable Frequency

The right interval depends on how often important files change and how much work you could afford to lose.  An off-site copy may be updated less often than an automatic local backup, but it should still be refreshed regularly.

Keep Older Versions When Useful

Fast-Backup can retain older versions of changed and deleted files.  This can help when a problem is discovered after a newer backup has already been made.

Disconnect Removable Backups

A removable backup drive does not need to remain connected after the backup has finished.  Disconnecting it and storing it safely keeps that copy separate from everyday problems affecting the computer and prevents ransomware from reaching it while it is offline.

See Protecting Backups from Ransomware for a simple connect, back up and disconnect routine.

Check That Your Backups Can Be Used

Periodically inspect the backup and restore some test files.  This confirms that the drive is readable and that the files you expect are actually being copied.