Backing up your stuff is important, but remembering to do it, and having to do it manually is nothing short of a hassle, and it’s why so many people simply can’t be bothered to do it. Thee Backup and Restore wizard in Windows 7 eliminates the hassle, and the excuses for not keeping current backups of your files.

The wizard contains an impressive array of options, including scheduling what and when to do the backups, and the kind of backups to create. The catch – the computer must be on, and if you’re using an external hard drive, it must be connected, unlike off-site backup solutions, which initially create a full backup, followed by incremental backups uploaded while the computer is idle.

In the process of creating a backup, you will be given the option to choose the folders you want to backup. Although this can be a one-time process, you can edit your backup settings in preparation for the next scheduled backup. There is a checkbox at the bottom to ‘include a system image of drives (c:). This will create a system image, as opposed to only backing up user files.

Image source: www.howtogeek.com

Once you have chosen the type of backup to create, you can set a schedule for how often you want Windows to automatically perform the backup. Sunday evening at 7pm is the default, but it can be changed to whatever you like.

Image source: www.howtogeek.com

Another useful feature of the Backup and Restore Wizard is it’s ability to make system images, which takes a snapshot of your hard drive and Windows in it’s current state, programs and all, and allows you to store it in a location of your choice – be warned, though – it will be quite large, and should be stored on an external hard drive.

There is an article on howtogeek.com goes into much more detail in a step by step guide on how to create backups in Windows 7 using the Backup and Restore Wizard. Creating regular backups is a great habit to get into, and Windows 7 makes it that much easier to do – hopefully motivating more people to make the effort, so less people make the mistake of losing everything before that lesson is learned.

That being said, a local copy sitting beside your computer is just as much at risk as the original copy of data on your computer. We recommend also storing user data off-site with a service like Nerds Backup.

Something we missed? Or something you think should be added to this article? Please leave a comment below, post a message on our Facebook fan page, or send us a tweet!

Cloud storage services are all the rage these days, as they allow for synchronization of your data across multiple devices and online, effectively also acting as a backup solution. They’re also easy to use and inexpensive.

The Verge did a recently thorough comparison article on this very topic, comparing all of the most well known cloud storage solutions, allowing for an easy to understand approach when it comes to choosing the service that’s right for you.

In a recent Security Now podcast episode, Steve Gibson also did a detailed review from a security standpoint of all the major cloud storage services, which can be a dealbreaker, depending on how security conscience you are, and what type of data you’re adding to these services.

The article was prompted by Microsoft’s revamped Skydrive, which is Microsoft’s entry into the mix. It offers 7GB of free storage (Dropbox and others only offer 2GB).

“SkyDrive starts things off right by offering 7GB of free storage, which is best in class,” explains the Verge article. “If you move quickly (and have used SkyDrive before), you can quickly nab 25GB of total free storage space. SkyDrive really excels at syncing documents created using OneNote and other Microsoft Office products like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.”

Here is an excerpt from a terrific post from InformationWeek regarding data safety and the various ways to ensure nothing happens to yours. Please don’t wait until ‘someday’ to have a backup strategy, whether you’re a home user or a business user. Once data is lost – it’s gone.

“The National Weather Service has begun testing the way it labels natural disasters. It’s hoping that the new warnings, which include words like “catastrophic,” “complete devastation likely,” and “unsurvivable,” will make people more likely to take action to save their lives. But what about their digital lives? The increasing frequency and magnitude of natural disasters made me wonder about saving individuals’ and businesses’ data from disasters. Data can’t be reminded to save itself, but we can take steps before a disaster to preserve it, and we can recover it afterward.

Here’s what Mike Cobb, the director of engineering at DriveSavers, recommends doing in case of an impending natural disaster:

– Keep all electronics out of basements and off the floor in general. Basements are naturally cool places, but are the first to flood.
– If possible, unplug your hardware–laptops, printers, and other electronic devices–from all power sources.
–Invest in a surge protector. Surge protectors and battery backups should be checked or replaced every few years to ensure the highest level of effectiveness.
–To help protect against water damage enclose any valuable devices in plastic or place in a water-tight plastic bin.

Sometimes hardware damage is inevitable, so perform backups often. This will prevent data loss even if the device itself is destroyed. Although there are reasons to be wary of online data storage, the cloud might make sense for people in disaster-prone locales who can’t afford off-site storage. You’ll be storing your files on remote servers that will be safe from whatever disaster takes down your computer.”

In addition to Carbonite, you may want to consider Nerds Backup for your off-site backup needs. That said, as we’ve stated in previous posts on the Nerds Blog, how you backup is up to you, but we strongly recommend a 3-prong strategy. The first being the original copy on your hard drive, the second an external drive or Network-Attached Storage device, the third being off-site backup. More posts on Nerds Backup can be found here, or go directly to the Nerds Backup website.

[our of our Nerds, Jason Quinn, contributed to this post]

Network-Attached Storage devices are very useful and provide a centralized, redundant location for any type of files your staff can access from any computer on the network.

That being said, the network is the backbone, so make sure your router/switch, and other equipment are sufficient to handle the amount of data, or it may be painfully slow to transfer files. In addition, wired connections will be faster than wireless.

That said, here are some our reviews of currently available Network-Attached Storage devices. Please consult with an your Nerd to find the device that best fits your needs.

Option 1 – Lacie network HDD:  This device appears to be one of the more versatile of the devices we’ve looked at. It has the option to connect wirelessly (b/g/n) or use Ethernet (10/100/1000). It can also act as wireless router, access point or wireless extender. It also offers three USB ports that can be used to expand storage capacity beyond the included 2 TB. The price is reasonable for all of the options offered. On the negative side, multiple user reviews mention that the setup is not easy, although others state that if you follow the instructions in the manual, the setup isn’t that bad.

Option 2 – Seagate GoFlex Mobile: This is probably the least flexible of the NAS options we have seen. It does NOT have an
ethernet port, but does use wireless b/g/n. It also has a battery for
mobility, although the battery is non-user replaceable. It only comes with 500GB of storage, which is significantly less than other comparably priced options. Another downside to this device is that it only spins at 5400 RPM, which will affect read/write times. Something else to consider is its small form factor, which could make physical security of the device an issue, as well as making it easier to lose. On the plus side, it does support USB 3.0.

Option 3 – LG NAS network hard drive: This drive appears to be a good option for the price. It only utilizes a wired ethernet connection 110/100/1000), but includes 1TB of storage. It can be accessed via a web interface (which also supports HTTPS: for security) and includes a file and ftp server. It also has Active Directory support and user/group management. However, it only uses USB 2.0 and SATA II, so read/write speeds will be slower. However, the price is very affordable, so this is a recommended option.

Option 4 – D-link DNS320 NAS: The only downfall we can determine in this device is that it doesn’t include the actual hard drives. It does, however, support RAID 1 for backup purposes. It also supports network printing, gigabyte Ethernet, ftp and file server. Adding terabyte drives will increase the cost. making this an overall pricier option, but with plenty of flexibility. One caveat is that the hard drives must be on the D-link compatibility list. The other possible downfall discovered in some user reviews – you cannot add drives with data on them – they have to be freshly formatted drives.

Would you like to see our reviews of other NAS devices? Have something to add? Add a comments below, or let us know on our Facebook fan page, send us a tweet, or an email – socialmedia@nerdsonsite.com.

note: this post will be updated as we review more NAS devices.

image source: www.howtoformataharddrive.net

Data loss is inevitable. Hard drives will fail, it’s just a matter of when. That’s not meant to instill fear in the hearts of many, but rather serve as a reminder that having reliable and current copies of your data is an absolute must!

In a 2007 study, Google revealed the hard drive failure rate in it’s massive server farms. They determined that most hard drives have a significantly increased chance of failing after 3 years.

Google indicated that failure rates between drive models or brands are not significant. Rather, age is much more relevant. That said, hard drives are mass-assembled, and can theoretically fail at any time, but on average, 3 years appears to be the point at which failure becomes much more likely.

Hard drive temperatures and wear and tear from day to day use play a significant role. A hard drive that works hard on a constant basis is likely to develop problems faster than one that is used less often.

The question is – is the data on your hard drive the only copy you have? If the answer is yes, it’s time to seriously consider creating backups, but what is the most effective way to accomplish this?

Nerds On Site often recommends a “3-prong” solution, which is to say 3 current copies. If one fails, you have two others. If your second copy is sitting beside your computer and is the victim of the same fire, flood, or power surge, the third copy (off-site) will come in handy!

Nerds Backup (referral link) or Carbonite (offer code link) are terrific off-site solutions. We’d love it if you chose Nerds Backup, but to be honest, we just want you to backup, regardless of the service you choose! It sends chills down our spines when we get the frantic phone calls from people convinced they’ve lost their precious family photos or other irreplaceable files! Those are calls we would love to not have happen!

Many of us now have high-speed internet, so having an off-site copy of our data being incrementally encrypted and backed up to an internet service is a “set it and forgot about it” solution. You tell it once which files and folders you want it to keep an eye on and backup changes, and it does so automatically behind-the-scenes.

Any disaster, however unlikely, that affects your local backups is guaranteed to not affect your off-site backup! Now THAT is peace of mind!

image source: http://tweakhound.com

That said, some people, such as those living in rural communities, or with limited access or low data caps – so an off-site solution isn’t very practical. In those cases, it may be preferred to have a second external hard drive, and using something akin to the Backup and Restore utility in Windows 7 to automatically backup once a week at the same day and time, providing the external drive and computer are both turned on. Then, storing it in your desk at work, or giving it to someone close to you as your off-site backup.

There is an excellent article about off-site backup up on Lockergnome.com. Here is an excerpt:

“What is off-site storage? It can be as simple as a Dropbox (referral link) or SkyDrive account. It can be as formal as a Carbonite account. The only point is to at least have your data somewhere else. You might remember to grab the external backup drive when you flee an oncoming tornado, but you might be more busy getting some quick essentials for life. While the point of off-site storage for a business would be to get back up and running as quickly as possible after a calamity, the goal of off-site storage for an individual might be to simply save data for later recovery.”

The biggest reason people don’t backup their stuff – it takes time and effort, and doing it manually can be a huge hassle. Finding ways to automate the process for the most part is a necessity.

If you are hesitant, or have any questions, feel free to give us a call, and one of our Nerds will be happy to set you up with a backup strategy that suits your needs and lifestyle! 1-877-696-3737 or visit www.nerdsonsite.com!

[this post is from the SME section of our website.]

If you own and operate a small business, lowering costs is an important part of keeping your company in the black. Cutting costs on your IT budget could inadvertently compromise your company’s security. Even though small businesses may not have all of the resources that large corporations do, they are still just as vulnerable to the same security threats. Here are ways to help secure your small business:

Purchase Anti-virus Software

Every computer is vulnerable to the wide variety of viruses, trojans, and worms that are on the Internet. These malicious software programs can do anything from damage your computer and files to steal your password and other important information stored on your computer. Purchase a good anti-virus software program and make sure that it is always up to date. Also, check to see that your anti-virus software checks for spyware, adware, and any other type of malware that could be hiding on your computer.

Avoid Phishing Emails

It is important to discuss with your employees the importance of not opening spam email, attachments or forwards that could possibly contain viruses. Make sure that your email has a filtering system that helps to filter out spam and other malicious email. Responding to phishing emails can be another costly mistake. Phishing emails are disguised as legitimate emails that then request login and password information. Changing passwords monthly can help to lessen the damage should an employee accidentally respond to a phishing email.

Minimize Damage From Dishonest or Disgruntled Employees

It is often difficult to predict if one of your employees will become disgruntled or dishonest, but you can put some safeguards in place to help minimize the damage should you find that you have one. Thoroughly screen your employees before hiring them, especially if they will have access to any confidential or financial company information. Limiting the number of employees that have access to this confidential information and changing your company passwords often can help to prevent former employees from accessing company computers.

Secure Your Wireless Network

Make sure that your wireless router is encrypted, and that your business is using WPA2 wireless security. A firewall is another important key to protecting the security of your small business. A firewall will allow access only to authorized users while blocking unauthorized access to the computer.

Have An Internet Use Policy

Aside from the obvious lack of productivity that personal Internet use can cause for your business, it can often be too easy to click on websites that contain malicious software that could easily infect your company computer and shut your system down temporarily or even permanently.

Avoid Having Everything on One Computer

Purchasing computer equipment is costly, so many small businesses will try to get away with fewer computers in order to save money. If you have your financial information on the same computer that your employees are accessing their company emails, you could risk losing everything that is vital to running your business should an infected email slip through.

Have a Data Backup System

Be sure to have some type of data storage and backup system in place in the event that your current system goes down. Having all of your files readily available to you in case of an emergency can ensure that your business will retain customers and continue to run smoothly no matter what the disaster.

Minimize Damage From Stolen Equipment

It difficult to prevent break-ins or equipment from being stolen from your home or office building, but you can have some security by ensuring that all of the information on your computer is encrypted and password protected.

Trying to scrimp when it comes to your small business’s computer security can be a costly mistake. Arm yourself with the knowledge of what your business could be up against and take steps towards prevention. The investment will give your company the security necessary to keep your information secure

Many people use a cloud synchronization service (like DropBox) to sync our files and data between computers. Some of us think that this also constitues a backup of our data, but that is not really correct. Data syncronization is not the same as backup, and SmallBizTechnology.com has 8 tips to help you see the difference between the two. To really protect your data, try NerdsBackup!

Read all 8 Tips: http://smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2011/12/synchronization-is-not-backup-confused-read-these-8-helpful-tips.html/.

According to a recent Business Insider article, 40% of small and mid-sized businesses do not have a data backup strategy and solution in place. Business Insider did a survey of their readers, and found that 40% of them used a cloud-based backup service like NerdsBackup. 47% did backup to a local backup device, such as a USB drive, which does offer a small glimmer of protection, but not much. You can read the article here: http://read.bi/tPxFba.

If your business is to survive a hardware failure, a cloud backup solution is critical. On-site data backups do not protect your business from theft, fire, flood or any other major disaster. Contact our team today to learn more about NerdsBackup and how we can protect your business!

With technology/development constantly changing and/or updating itself, so much those of us that provide solutions and support. http://nerdsonline.com has tactically amalgamated its three key areas; NerdsBackup, Hosting & Development to one central location to better serve our clients.

Even though we’ve already done this, we are still internally discussing ways to optimize the site and services we proudly offer.

Do you see something we are missing, or do you have an issue that needs resolution? Click here to contact us.

What would you do if a disaster happened?

When people mention they have backups, we ask them if they have an OFFSITE/Online backup. Most don’t – and once we remind them about Fire/Flood/Theft, and How INEXPENSIVE Nerds Backup ($1.50 per GB) is compared to losing all their files…they’re eager to sign up!

In regards to security concerns, your files are protected using 448 bit Blowfish Encryption before they leave your PC. This extremely secure “bank grade”encryption algorithm has never been cracked. Your files are then stored in this encrypted state at our secure data center. This means that each user also gets a unique encryption key tied to their username and password. This encryption key ensures that while your data is securely stored at our data center, only you have access to your data. In fact, even our most privileged systems administrators do not have the ability to decrypt your data.

Your data is kept in a state-of-the-art data centre alongside the systems of several major banks. This highly secure physical infrastructure includes the latest in biometric authentication, video surveillance and round-the-clock security officers. Your data is stored at one of Acpana’s data centres and only you have access. All data stored at the data centre and any communication with the data centre is two-way encrypted.

More information about our security methods and FAQs can be found on our website.
All clients should have their data backed up! We encourage you to try Nerds Backup for free for 14 days! If you have any questions, feel free to ask via email (backupservice@nerdsonsite.com), phone, Twitter, or Facebook!