As laptops evolve from luxury to necessity, and are increasingly becoming a user’s primary device, more and more vital data is being stored inside that little, portable box. People once stored pictures in photo albums, receipts and statements in envelopes and important business paperwork in filing cabinets. But all of these things are now being stored on computing devices.

Although storing important information to a computer is easy, it’s also risky as even the best laptops available can suffer data loss, whether it’s due to crashing or a harmful virus. But fear not, there are more precautions than ever available to ensure you are protected.

Make Copies

Keeping copies of your data is like keeping a spare key for your car. It’s a simple thing to do that could potentially save you weeks of regret, or more, if unable to recover all that was lost. There are a number of options for saving data, and most are inexpensive, including devices you plug in, services you subscribe to, and software you download.

Flash drives, CDs, and external hard drives are common devices that are easy to use. You simply connect them to your computer and drag in the items you wish to save. To make it easier, try creating a single folder containing all your vital data. This will make the process simple and efficient.

For even more protection, you might make two copies, as in a back-up of your back-up. Remember, when it comes to vital data, better safe than sorry. It’s much easier to prevent loss than to recover it, and less stressful, too.

Store It On The Cloud

If you don’t trust yourself to back up your data to other devices there is always cloud storage, which does the backing up for you over Wi-Fi. The cloud can restore lost data if you ever need it and there are many services available, for which fees vary.

To make an informed decision on which is best for you, check out the Cloud Storage Industry Review which has reviewed and tested service leaders for speed, reliability, security, ease of use, cost and support.

A similarly easy alternative is an online service called Carbonite which runs automatically in the background. For a fee, new and modified files are automatically backed up any time your computer is connected to the Internet.

Antivirus

If a virus is what’s ailing you, there are many free and effective antivirus options. Easy-to-download Ad-Aware Free Antivirus is an antivirus, anti-spyware service by Lavasoft, which offers effective malware protection. According to PC Magazine, it’s easier to setup than most.

Another option is Hotspot Shield, which is an excellent tool if you use shared Wi-Fi. Hotspot Shield secures your IP address and protects your browsing from the eyes of sneaky hackers, be they at hotels, airports, or the local coffee shop.

Whether your precious data includes family photos, bank statements or business files, be sure to protect all of your sensitive files by backing up your data. There are plenty of options available.

Author bio: Jennifer Thayer is passionate about technology and enjoys writing about apps, gadgets and tech news. She’s always looking to uncover new tips and tricks. Follow her on Twitter to see what she comes up with next.