ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (WHAT THE TECH?) — If it’s been a few years since you’ve done it, backing up a computer is easier than it was in the past, as you have a lot of options.

On a Windows computer, you go to settings and choose “files backup.” You can back up to 5 GB for free with Microsoft Cloud. If you have a Microsoft 365 account, you can back up everything, up to 1 TB, for $10 a month.

You can also back up a computer to an external hard drive. Connect the drive to the computer and choose it as the backup destination. On a Mac, use Time Machine in General Settings. Connect an external hard drive and direct the computer to use it to store a backup.

If you choose to backup a PC or Mac to an external drive, disconnect the hard drive after the backup to prevent it from being compromised in a ransomware attack.

You can backup a Mac computer to the iCloud.

Alternatively, you can pay for an automated cloud backup through BackBlaze or CrashPlan. These are best options for businesses and organizations. For under $10 a month, you get regular automated backups with no storage limits. If something happens, you can recover everything and load to a new computer.

I’m a big fan of these backup plans because you don’t have to remember to do anything. The important thing is, no matter which option you choose, is to be backing up a computer regularly (learn more here).

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