Media Backup Plan

TL;DR

This guide helps you create a reliable backup strategy for your important media files (photos, videos, music etc.). We’ll cover using multiple storage types – local drives, external hard drives and cloud services – to protect against data loss. Regularly test your backups!

1. Understand Your Needs

1. How much data do you have? This determines the storage capacity you’ll need.
2. How often does your media change? More frequent changes mean more frequent backups.
3. What’s your budget? Cloud storage costs money, while local drives require an upfront investment.
4. Recovery Time Objective (RTO): How quickly do you need to restore files if something goes wrong? This influences the backup method.

2. The 3-2-1 Backup Rule

Follow this simple rule for robust protection:

• 3 copies of your data: Your original + two backups.
• 2 different media types: e.g., internal drive, external hard drive.
• 1 offsite copy: Cloud storage or a physically separate location.

3. Local Backups

1. Internal Drive Backup: Use your operating system’s built-in backup tool.
   • Windows: File History (Settings > Update & Security > Backup).
   • macOS: Time Machine (System Preferences > Time Machine).
2. External Hard Drive Backup: Copy your media files to an external drive.
   • Connect the drive and drag-and-drop files, or use backup software.
   • Consider using disk imaging software for a full system backup (e.g., Clonezilla).

4. Cloud Backups

1. Choose a Provider: Popular options include Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Backblaze and iCloud.
2. Install the Desktop App: Most providers offer an app that automatically syncs folders to the cloud.
   • Create a dedicated folder for your media backups.
   • Configure automatic syncing.
3. Consider Versioning: Some services keep multiple versions of files, allowing you to restore older copies.

5. Automate Your Backups

Manual backups are prone to errors. Use automation tools:

• Windows Task Scheduler: Schedule regular file copies using the xcopy command.

  xcopy "C:MyMedia" "E:BackupDriveMyMedia" /s /e /h /y /i

• macOS Automator: Create a workflow to copy files on a schedule.
• Dedicated Backup Software: Programs like Duplicati or Veeam Agent offer advanced scheduling and features.

6. Test Your Backups

1. Regularly Restore Files: Don’t just assume your backups are working! Pick a few files at random and restore them to verify the process.
2. Simulate Data Loss: Occasionally, pretend you’ve lost data and practice restoring from your backups. This identifies any weaknesses in your strategy.

7. Security Considerations

• Encryption: Encrypt your local backups to protect sensitive data.
  Windows BitLocker or macOS FileVault can encrypt entire drives.
• Cyber security: Use strong passwords for cloud accounts and enable two-factor authentication (2FA).
• Physical Security: Store external hard drives in a safe location, away from fire, water, and theft.