This article describes two easy solutions to perform free offsite backups on Windows PCs with ease.
Offsite backup is a crucial component of a comprehensive disaster recovery plan according to the 3-2-1 backup principle. It involves creating and storing copies of important data in a location separate from the primary site or the original data source. Several free offsite backup solutions are available, including external devices like USB flash drives, HDDs, SSDs, and tapes, cloud drives, network drives, and even another PC.
Offsite backup solutions empower individuals and businesses to securely copy files, folders, operational data, or entire operating systems to offsite backup storage. Such backup services often include disaster recovery capabilities, enabling swift and effortless data retrieval. In the following discussion, we will explore the key advantages of implementing offsite backup and guide you through the process of performing free offsite backup on Windows PCs with ease.
The decision to opt for offsite backup solutions is driven by the desire to safeguard data in the face of regional natural or human-made disasters. The advantages of offsite backup include:
Doing an offsite backup is indeed a straightforward process, and there are both automatic and manual methods available. In this section, we will introduce free offsite backup software along with a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
Backup and Restore is a built-in backup and recovery utility in Windows operating systems. With this tool, you can create backups of individual files and folders, as well as system image backups. It provides the flexibility to perform free offsite backups to various storage options such as DVDs, USB drives, and network locations.
To utilize Backup and Restore for creating offsite file backups, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Open the Control Panel on your Windows computer. Under the System and Security section, click on Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Step 2. In the Backup and Restore window, you will see the Back up or restore your files section. Click on Set up backup to proceed.
Step 3. Choose an offsite backup destination by selecting an external hard drive or backing up to network drive by hitting Save on a network and following the prompts to select the desired network location.
Step 4. Select Let Windows choose (recommended) or Let me choose to pick what you wish to back up.
Step 5. Review the backup settings and click on Save settings and run backup to initiate the offsite backup process.
AOMEI Backupper Standard is a comprehensive software that offers a wide range of features to facilitate free offsite backups and restores. With this software, you can perform various types of backups, including file backups, system backups, disk backups, and partition backups. The following features contribute to implementing offsite backup best practices:
To rely on this offsite backup software free to create offsite file backups, you can go on with the guideline below:
Step 1. Start by launching the AOMEI Backupper Standard software. On the main page, click on Backup and then select File Backup.
Step 2. Name the backup task if needed. Click on Add Folder or Add File to select the specific items on your computer that you want to include in the backup.
Step 3. In the second bar, click on the inverted triangle icon to expand the options and choose a destination path for your backup. You have the following three options: Select a local path, Add Share or NAS Devices, or Select a cloud drive.
Step 4. Verify your backup settings, and click on Start Backup to initiate the offsite backup process.
This article introduces two methods for free offsite backup, but it's clear that AOMEI Backupper offers a more comprehensive and user-friendly solution. With AOMEI Backupper, you have a wider range of backup destinations and backup methods available to suit your specific needs. Whether you prefer to backup to external drives, network locations, or cloud storage, this backup software provides flexibility and convenience.
Don't wait until it's too late - take proactive measures to safeguard your data by utilizing the power of AOMEI Backupper for your offsite backup needs.