Data backup strategy

{{whyLabel}}: You cannot protect what you haven't identified, and fragmented data is the leading cause of loss during hardware failure.

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• Scan your primary computer, smartphone, and existing cloud drives (Google Drive, iCloud).
• Include 'hidden' data like browser bookmarks, application configurations (.config or AppData), and local email archives.
• Note the total storage size required to determine hardware needs.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A complete list of folders and devices with their estimated data volume is documented.

{{whyLabel}}: Not all data is equal; prioritizing ensures that irreplaceable files (photos, legal docs) are protected with higher redundancy than replaceable ones (software installers).

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• Tier 1 (Irreplaceable): Family photos, tax documents, private keys.
• Tier 2 (Important): Work projects, active study materials.
• Tier 3 (Convenience): Game saves, downloaded media, OS settings.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Every data category is assigned a priority level from 1 to 3.

{{whyLabel}}: This industry standard eliminates single points of failure by ensuring redundancy across different media and locations.

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• Maintain 3 copies of your data (1 primary, 2 backups).
• Use 2 different media types (e.g., internal SSD and external HDD).
• Keep 1 copy offsite (e.g., encrypted cloud or a physical drive at a relative's house).

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A written plan exists detailing which devices will hold which of the three copies.

{{whyLabel}}: Local backups provide the fastest recovery speed for large data volumes without relying on internet bandwidth.

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• Choose an external HDD for high capacity at low cost, or an external SSD for speed and physical durability.
• Ensure the capacity is at least 2x to 3x the size of the data you intend to back up to allow for versioning (history).
• Select a device with USB 3.2 or USB-C connectivity for modern transfer speeds.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: An external storage device is unboxed and connected to your primary machine.

{{whyLabel}}: Manual backups fail because humans forget; automation ensures consistency.

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• For Windows: Use 'File History' or the open-source 'FreeFileSync' for folder-level mirroring.
• For macOS: Use 'Time Machine' for seamless system-wide snapshots.
• Set the frequency to 'Daily' or 'Continuous' if the drive is always connected.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: The first automated backup cycle completes successfully to the external drive.

{{whyLabel}}: Mirroring files is good, but a system image allows you to restore your entire OS, apps, and settings to a new drive in minutes if the primary drive dies.

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• Use 'Rescuezilla' (Open Source) or 'Macrium Reflect' (Free version) to create a bit-for-bit copy of your boot drive.
• Store this image on your external storage device.
• Create a 'Bootable Rescue Media' (USB stick) to launch the recovery software if the OS won't start.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A .img or backup file exists on the external drive along with a bootable USB recovery stick.

{{whyLabel}}: Privacy is paramount; you should never upload sensitive data to a cloud provider without encrypting it yourself first.

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• Install 'Cryptomator' (Open Source).
• Create a 'Vault' inside your cloud-synced folder (e.g., inside Dropbox or OneDrive).
• Move your most sensitive Tier 1 files into this vault; they will be encrypted locally before being uploaded.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Sensitive files are only visible when the Cryptomator vault is unlocked with your master password.

{{whyLabel}}: Offsite backups protect against local disasters (fire/theft) that would destroy both your PC and your local external drive.

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• Use a dedicated backup service like 'Backblaze' (Personal) or 'Duplicati' (Open Source) paired with S3-compatible storage (e.g., Wasabi or Backblaze B2).
• Ensure 'Encryption at Rest' is enabled with a key only you know.
• Limit upload speed if necessary to avoid choking your home internet.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: The initial offsite sync is running (note: this may take days depending on data volume).

{{whyLabel}}: A backup that hasn't been tested is just a 'hope'. Data corruption or software errors can render backups useless without warning.

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• Pick 5 random files from your backup (one large, one small, one from the cloud, one from local).
• Restore them to a 'Test' folder on your desktop.
• Open the files to ensure they are not corrupted and the version is current.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: Five files are successfully restored and verified as functional.

{{whyLabel}}: In a high-stress emergency, you might forget passwords or the location of physical drives.

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• Write down: Where the drives are kept, which software is used, and where the encryption master keys are stored (use a password manager like Bitwarden).
• Print a physical copy of the most critical recovery keys and store them in a fireproof safe or with a trusted person.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A clear, step-by-step recovery guide exists in both digital and physical form.

{{whyLabel}}: Backup systems can drift or fail silently over time due to software updates or full disks.

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• Set a recurring calendar invite for the first Sunday of every quarter (every 3 months).
• Check: Are all drives healthy? Is the cloud storage full? Did the last automated sync finish without errors?
• Repeat the 'Fire Drill' restoration test.

{{doneWhenLabel}}: A recurring event is visible in your digital calendar.