| Photo: Boonchai Wedmakawand / Mal through Getty Image |
As photographers, one of our worst fear is searching for a failed hard drive or dead computer, resulting in losing countless photos. Unfortunately, supporting images is one for many, putting those files at risk. If you come to that camp, it may be time to consider how to modify your images to modify your backup process.
The 3-2-1 rule has become a gold standard for photo backup, which provides a safe way to protect your work. Here you should know about this method of backup.
What is 3-2-1 rule?
Photographer Peter Crog is usually attributed to coming up with a 3–2–1 rule nearly two decades ago. He wrote about his method in his 2009 book The Dam Book: Digital Asset Management for PhotographersWhile digital storage has changed considerably since, the general principle remains relevant.
The backup method suggests that you should have three copies of your files. Files should be stored on two separate types of media, and one copy should be placed offsome. Following that process helps your files protect your files from hardware failure and physical disasters like fire or theft.
3-2-1
Each number of 3–2–1 rules refers to a separate component in the backup process. Here are different parts about which you should know.
Three copies
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| You must have three copies of your files for extreme protection, although they should not all have the same media type. Photo: Michelle Clarke |
The first number of rules states that you should have three copies of your data. It is important to have three copies so that if there is nothing for your main storage, you have an additional backup. Although it is unlikely that two backup sources are damaged, it is possible, and a third gives you an additional layer of safety.
Your primary computer can count as a copy, which can work when the first starts. However, you will eventually have too much to store the computer, so you will need another backup option at some point.
Two types of media
Of your three copies, you should use at least two different types of media instead of two different devices of the same type. Using various media gives a variety of risk, thus the possibility of failure for both options is less likely.
These days there are many different types of media in our disposal. You can choose a copy of a copy on the hard drive and a copy in the cloud, or you can choose a network attached storage system and the option of portable SSD. The important thing is that there are two separate systems that you update.
An offsome
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| Image: Andriy onuffriyenko / through Getty images through moment |
Finally, a copy of your files should be stored offsome. Storing backup of your work at a different place from its other two helps protect against risks such as theft or natural disasters. After all, if all your backups are stored in your house and fire, then all your work will go away, how many physical copies you have.
When thinking about an offsome version, it is useful to understand the difference between an off -wee copy and offsome backup. A proper backup is the process of a structured, version that allows for data recovery of original files. It saves loss, corruption, accidental deletion and more and allows you to return on time. DPREVEREW editor Michelle Clarke once saved his broad library of pictures because he supported them all BackballsA cloud backup service that he often advises to friends and family.
“A proper backup is the process of a structured, version that allows for data recovery.”
On the other hand, there is just one per duplicate that has been saved elsewhere with a version lack of history. Cloud services such as Google Drive and Dropbox are not considered proper backup because they sink files instead of providing only a strong, version collection. Those platforms are still unsafe for overwriting with ransomware, casual file deletion or incorrect versions. They are fine in a pinch and as a temporary solution, but keep in mind that they are not to serve as true backup.
You can also be wooed to use a hard drive placed in a separate place as your offsome copy. This can serve as a limited short -term solution, but should not be used for a long time. It is very common to plug only a hard drive that it is dead, as I learned in a difficult way years ago. Optical media options are M-Discis, which are designed for the previous one In fact Long time and each can catch up to 100GB, but standard hard disk drives are not considered safe for long -term backups.
Protect your files
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| Photo: Michelle Clarke |
The 3-2–1 rule definitely seems simple on paper, but applying a strong backup system can be the time consuming and heavy. However, first you bring this method into practice, it will be easy, and the less you have to worry about losing your hard work. And if you can find ways to automate it to reduce the risk of human error, then all are better.
