Backup and data protection - how necessary are they?

The use of modern technology, its further development and the versatility it brings with it, offer people advantages like never before. Modern man is able to communicate over long distances, around the globe, engage in commerce in a globalized world, or self-actualize on the Internet. Every day, the average modern person uses the Internet and social media, whether for entertainment or to facilitate everyday life. Sophisticated technology and the Internet have become a normal part of everyday life that we can't imagine life without.

Even the private sector can hardly do without computer technology and access to the Internet. Administrative processes are organized via servers, data is stored on clouds, communication takes place via various messenger or telephone services, and external media are also used to back up data. Even application procedures can now be carried out almost entirely digitally. Modern technology offers numerous companies the opportunity to improve workflows and simplify difficult tasks.

What are the risks?

In addition to the often-mentioned advantages of technological progress, however, the risks must not be neglected under any circumstances, because they are also part of the development. Wherever people work with computers or the Internet, data is affected: data is collected, shared, used, published, and so on. It is not uncommon for this to be personal data that requires special protection and needs to be safeguarded. But where does this need come from? Basically, two main risks can be focused on:

Cybercrime

It may not be immediately apparent at the outset, but more people fall for cyber fraud than thought. One particularly treacherous method is ransomware, which can be present both on infected websites and in corresponding download links. If this form of malware gets onto the user's computer, the attacker can encrypt, lock or even completely delete all important data. In this way, pressure can be exerted on the victim, up to blackmail. Often, demands for money are made, which are to be fulfilled in order to get the valuable data back. If the perpetrator's demand is not met, he often deletes the encrypted data or misuses it in other ways.

Technical defects

Every user of a computer should be aware of one fact: Hard disks on which important data is stored can suffer defects and fail. The hard disk may be very old and damaged, or it may simply not be recognized by your system. In both cases, the data is lost if no backup was made and thus data protection was carried out.

Which programs are worthwhile?

When it comes to backups and data protection, there is a wide range of programs from just as many companies. Each program brings its own advantages that can help the user.

Acronis True Image

This software appears in four versions: Acronis True Image Essentials, Acronis True Image Standard, Acronis True Image Advanced and Acronis True Image Premium. Acronis True Image is the former name of the backup software now known as Cyber Protect Home Office. The focus of the program is on reliable backups as well as reliable anti-virus protection.

Backups can be made both locally and in the integrated Acronis Cloud, with hardly any limits. From individual files to complete copies of an entire system, a backup is possible. If, for example, a hard drive should fail completely, this provides the option of restoring the contents in full. Thus, no data loss takes place and data backup is guaranteed.

There is also an integrated antivirus program, which is supposed to protect the system from cyber attacks. Real-time scans, which are run in the background, detect any threats early on and block them before any damage can be done to the running system. Depending on which additional features are preferred, there is a choice between Acronis True Image Standard, Acronis True Image Essentials, Acronis True Image Advanced and Acronis True Image Premium.

WinZip

If you're wondering what WinZip Standard or WinZip Pro have to do with backups or data protection, you'll be proven wrong. With WinZip Standard and WinZip Pro, you can also create backups and save them. Although the focus of WinZip is not on data protection or the backup function, the software earns its place in this category.

Ashampoo Backup Pro 15

Ashampoo Backup Pro is a comprehensive Windows backup program to back up and restore data if the need arises. To ensure that there is enough space for a backup, Ashampoo Backup Pro 15 checks the system capacities and only backs up when there is enough space. Furthermore, files can be compressed into individually selectable formats so that space can be saved. Another feature that Ashampoo Backup Pro 15 offers the user is a quickly available emergency system. If an operating system fails completely, the emergency system, which was previously placed on an external storage medium, can restore the original state of the operating system.

Steganos Password Manager & Steganos Safe

This software combination allows a user to encrypt data and manage passwords. An integrated failover function ensures that the entire password vault can be opened via a master password in case important system components are damaged or passwords are deleted.

iolo System Mechanic

This software primarily takes care of the performance of the running system. Superfluous data junk that slows down and destabilizes the system is tracked down and removed. Iolo System Mechan ic can also remove applications that were downloaded unintentionally or unknowingly without leaving a trace. The data protection aspect is fulfilled in a different way here, namely by maintaining a stable system. In fact, the most common causes of data loss are errors within the software used, which cause corresponding crashes. In the worst case, entire operating systems can be affected. To prevent such an occurrence, this program brings stability to the system.

The versatility in this category is enormous, as even programs whose focus is not on backups or data protection bring important elements of these points. Accordingly, it can be useful to look more closely at a particular program and see what benefits can be derived from it for data backup and backups.