Creating backup copies is something very important and one that we always recommend. You can use cloud storage or physical storage. Whatever option you choose, it is essential not to make mistakes. In this article, we are going to talk to you about the main problems with creating automatic backups. You will see that there are certain limitations and, sometimes, it could put your security at risk.
An automatic backup is basically when it is done alone. You can schedule it to happen every week, for example. You won’t have to do anything, since the software itself will take care of it. But, as we are going to explain to you, this can have some complications and you should take them into account.
Limitations of automatic copies
You can make backup copies of all types of files. Maybe you have text documents that you want to save so as not to lose them, photographs, videos, etc. They are useful for backing up content if you lose a device, if it stops working, if you get a virus, etc. It’s key that those copies work when you need them.
Files may be left out
The first thing that may happen is that certain files are not included in that backup. For example, it could happen that you make an automatic copy every week, at a certain time, and that day you have finished working or doing some task later. The copy has been made, but it has not included those last documents.
By making the copy manually, you can always make sure that you have included all the files that you want to have saved. There will be no shortage of documents that you may need in case of a problem.
Resource consumption
When you do an automatic backup, there is some resource consumption. For example, if it is a cloud backup, it will consume internet data. You need to upload those files to the appropriate platform. If it is local, you will still have to copy the files and that consumes resources.
Maybe you don’t want to waste internet data or the speed may slow down at any given time. It may even be that just when the copy is made, you need your device to be at full capacity or not consume battery. Therefore, since these copies are automatic, they could appear at the worst moment.
Service may fail
Another problem is that the service may fail. You may think that the backup will be successful, but in reality it has not. It could even happen repeatedly, and when you need to back up the data, you find that it has not been saved and you cannot access it.
Once again, by saving your backups manually, you will be able to have greater control. You will be able to check for yourself whether these copies have been made correctly, whether or not the service has failed, whether any documents are missing, etc. Avoid surprises if you need to recover files encrypted by ransomware.
Ultimately, although creating automatic backups can be a very interesting option, you should be aware of its main limitations. You might even have problems in some cases. Always check carefully that they are done properly and do not make mistakes.
