Make a backup plan that survives deletion and a lost computer
Choose what to protect, keep an independent copy and test a restore instead of counting synchronized folders as backups.
In brief
A backup plan needs three answers: which data it covers, what failures it can survive and whether you can restore it. A synchronized folder can copy an unwanted deletion, so synchronization alone is not the whole plan.
Start with the files you cannot recreate: documents, photos, account recovery information and local saves.
Choose failures you want to survive
Accidental deletion needs useful versions or retention. A stolen laptop needs a copy somewhere else. Ransomware needs protection from the affected device’s write access. Document these goals so a “backup” stored on the same failing drive is not mistaken for coverage.
Keep the recovery route usable
Encrypt sensitive portable backups and store their recovery information safely. Know which account opens a cloud backup and protect that account with appropriate authentication. Do not keep the only decryption key on the laptop whose loss you are planning for.
Test before an emergency
Restore a small representative set to a separate location. Open documents and check image or save contents, not just filenames. Record the date and any missing items. Repeat after a meaningful change to your backup configuration, and keep failure messages visible rather than ignoring a silent stopped job.
Before you act
A backup connected continuously with the same write access may be affected by ransomware. Retention, encryption and recovery credentials also need attention.
What to do next
- List important folders and the devices or services where they live.
- Create a separate backup with appropriate history and an offline or otherwise protected copy where practical.
- Restore a sample into a different folder and verify it opens without replacing the working original.
