Hurricane Season Just Started - Backup Your Computer Now, Before the Storm Hits

With hurricane season upon us, now is the time to include computer backup in your disaster planning. The Atlantic hurricane season starts every year on June 1st and runs through November 30th. This is the time of year when homeowners who live in coastal areas need to prepare for disaster. Here are some tips to ensure easy computer backup prior to a storm's approach.

With hurricane season upon us, now is the time to include computer backup in your disaster planning. The Atlantic hurricane season starts every year on June 1st and runs through November 30th. This is the time of year when homeowners who live in coastal areas need to prepare for disaster. There's a lot to think about when it comes to disaster planning and it's easy to forget computer backup. If you live in an area that's at risk for hurricanes, then you have a good chance of losing your valuable computer files unless you prepare in advance.

If you're like most families, your hurricane disaster plan includes such items as securing your house, knowing where to go if you have to evacuate, and having a survival kit of food and water on hand. But what about securing your important computer data? In today's world of digital music, digital video, digital photos, and digital financial data, it's more important than ever to have a computer backup plan in place well before a hurricane strikes.

After having lived in south Florida for many years, I can tell you that the majority of folks don't plan for a disaster until the last minute. We sit and watch the weather reports and don't take action until the storm threat is eminent. As the storm approaches, there's always a run on plywood at the local lumber supply. Canned goods and bottled water disappear from the shelves of the supermarkets. People are frantically running around securing their boats, RVs, and other vehicles. Very few people even consider data backup and recovery at this time. As the storm approaches, preparations become more frantic. There are too many other things to worry about besides having to backup a computer.

The key to protecting your data is to do your backup while things are still calm. Here are some tips to ensure easy computer backup prior to a storm's approach:

1. Set up a data backup schedule now. Make sure to backup your computer files on a regular basis. Don't wait too long between backups. As long as you're current with your file backup, you won't have to rush around as the storm approaches.

2. If you're using removable media such as CDs or DVDs to backup your computer, make sure to store them in a remote location outside of the coastal area. Ask a friend or relative who lives well inland to store your backup discs.

3. Using a small flash drive known as a data stick or thumb drive is a great way to store data and it's totally portable. With flash drives, you can literally carry your data recovery system on your key chain. The latest generation of flash drive technology allows data storage of up to 64 GB and provides for one touch, push button file backup. File recovery from a flash drive is just as easy. One problem with flash drives, however, is that they are easily lost or misplaced because of their small size.

4. Online backup is by far the best way to go when it comes to protecting your computer files from natural disaster. Modern online backup providers offer computer backup in real time. The software runs in the background on your computer and is continuously backing up your data every time you're logged onto the internet. There is no need to even think about it. Online backup is automatic and totally secure. Your files can easily be accessed and recovered from any location with an internet connection. Online backup is basically a set-it-and-forget-it system. When a hurricane is approaching, you have nothing to worry about. Your computer is already backed up and the files are secure.

For more information about online computer backup as well as the latest flash drive backup technology visit http://www.backupacomputer.com

Mike Schaaf is a world traveler and proponent of the 4 hour work week. He has carried his trusty laptop all over the globe. Computer backup is an important and essential part of his travel routine. Mike has lived in remote areas of South America including a 7 year stint in the jungles of Columbia. He has traveled extensively by sailboat throughout the Caribbean as well as the Aegean Sea. Mike is currently traveling throughout Southeast Asia in Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia.