These can be kept on a computer, flash drive, or other on-site server. You’ll also need to have locally-stored backup files. First, we recommend that you read the first two posts in our cloud storage series to get caught up: An Introduction to Cloud Storage and 5 Crucial Features to Look for in a Cloud Storage Solution. What You’ll Need Before Transferring Your Backupsīefore you begin, there are a few steps you’ll want to take. In this PDF we identify 10 must-have features you should consider in your quest for the right WordPress backup plugin. If you don't already have an extra external hard drive lying around, waiting to be used for system images, we're partial to Seagate's Backup Plus Slim.Bonus: Download our WordPress Backup Plugin Guide. To create images, third-party software such as Macrium Reflect or Acronis True Image can be used, or you can take advantage of the imaging system built right into Windows 10. In the event of a failure, an image can be restored using a recovery environment, whether it's one built into Windows or one you create on a separate USB drive. How to create an image backup using Windows 10 Differential images keep track of all changes made since the last full image was created, so you only need the full image and the latest differential image to restore a PC.

Incremental images keep track of all changes made since the last incremental image, but to restore your PC you need the full image plus all incremental images. Unlike cloning, which takes up an entire drive and can't be easily updated with changes you make to your primary drive, imaging lets you save multiple full images on a drive (as long as space is available) and also allows for incremental and differential backups.

Imaging a hard drive involves creating a compressed version of everything saved on the drive - OS, settings, and files - that can be used to restore your PC in the event of a failure. If you're worried about outside circumstances ruining your PC's backups, it might be a good idea to have a look at an online backup service. Many online backup companies will actually mail you a hard drive with your encrypted data on it in the event of a hard drive failure, but you can also access and sync files when online - some even feature File Explorer integration. You can usually also create images of your system for safekeeping in the event of a complete failure.

These services usually have an app that is installed on your PC it scans for files that should be protected (such as system files and important documents), encrypts them, and then sends them off to the cloud for safekeeping. Using an online backup service, such as IDrive or Backblaze, will usually cost you more in the long run than, say, an external hard drive, but these services also give you peace of mind when it comes to fires, floods or other circumstances where your backups could be completely destroyed.

Backup computer on cloud