When you think about it, it’s really quite amazing how quickly technology has changed our world in such a short time. It could be debated that this growth is unprecedented in human history. Perhaps, the discovery of fire, the wheel, written language, or the printing press may fit into this category because they completely changed the way people do things.

Storage Disasters from Paper to Chips

The point is that computers have changed the way we interact and do business. It has been such a change that it seems like eons ago that we put everything on paper.

Paper is vulnerable to the elements, such as water and fire, and they needed a great deal of space for storage. Paper could get also get lost, and sometimes data on your computer gets lost, too, but you probably won’t lose your computer.

These factors, of course, are the main reasons why computers were embraced with a fury once their size became less of a burden. But, it’s left us vulnerable in familiar and new ways.

Fire and water can still ruin our computers. These are the familiar vulnerabilities. The new ways are the dependence on electricity, system crashes, and those nasty viruses that people inexplicably put out there because they can.

These were things we didn’t have to worry about with paper. But, what did we do to protect ourselves for potential paper loss? We made copies. Sometimes in triplicate. And we stored them in different locations to protect the information that they contained.

The Need for Internet Storage

We can do this with our computers, too. You can back things up on CDs, or on another computer in your network. If you’re a business, you likely have your own servers that store all the data your company needs. But, even those are vulnerable if there is some kind of old or new disaster.

Internet storage is a way of storing your information on a source outside of your home or company computers and servers. This method of internet storage is becoming an ever increasing popular tool for businesses and people who want to save personal data like photos, music, and more.

Do we really need it? It can’t hurt. And despite our leap into technological advancement, there’s still a few things we can learn from our paper-toting forebears. Keep copies of everything, and don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Internet storage gives us a few more baskets.

Companies and individuals regularly send and receive email, many with business-critical documents such as contracts, bids, proposals, and other forms of essential correspondence.  What would happen if one day you suddenly lost it all?  Would you be able to perform critical business functions?  What if your address book disappeared and you lost all your (many, many) contacts?

Thus, we illustrate the importance (and necessity) of email backup.  Look for a backup provider that allows you to quickly and accurately restore your vital email data; otherwise, when (not if) your computer fails/is stolen/is burned to a crisp in a suspicious office fire, you may spend days trying to recover your email.

Mac users, rejoice!  If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to switch to mac backup software using MozyHome for your Mac.  Why, you ask?  Well, not only are bulky external hard drives and compact discs so passe,  online backup more convenient, affordable, and simpler.  What’s not to love about that?  So whether you’ve been a Mac junkie for years or just hopped on the bandwagon, MozyHome for Mac can keep all your documents, files, and photos safe and secure.  Talk about peace of mind.

• ConsumerSearch
• Information Week
• Ars Technica
• Washington Post
• Future Gadgets
• PC Mag