Why is Yev so sad? Is it because Backup Awareness Month is nearly over? No. You see, we just got back the results from our annual State of User Data Backup Survey and the results made him sad. Let me explain. Each year for the past six years, we’ve asked the folks at Harris Interactive to conduct this survey for us. Each time they reach out to thousands of people and ask them a simple question: “How often do you back up all the data on your computer?”
We sponsor this survey each June, in concert with Backup Awareness Month. While more and more people sign up each day with Backblaze to back up the precious memories and important files stashed away on their PCs and Macs, the survey is completely blind to that fact. The survey takers reach out across the US to grab a cross section of users from all regions of the country, ages 18 to 80+, across different social economic ranges, different educational backgrounds, and more. The results are tabulated and sent to us.
For 2013, only 71.17% of the people surveyed have ever backed up their computer as compared to 2012 in which 71.21% of people reported doing the same. Basically that’s no change—nada. So how often do people back up their systems? Here’s a comparison of 2012 versus 2013. Not much change, is there?
“But, my data isn’t valuable enough to back up everyday.”
Some people tell us that they don’t need to back up everyday, for them once a week or even once a month is fine. At that point they back up their computer, usually manually, to an external hard drive or a USB stick and they’re happy. But nearly half of the people surveyed accumulate six or more months worth of photos, videos, documents, spreadsheets, etc., before they back up their computer. Think for a minute about the files on your computer that you added or changed in the last six months. What would you lose if they were gone, forever?
The 10%
Reality check time. I would guess that since you are reading this blog you are a Backblaze customer. So we are, as they say, preaching to the choir. If Harris Interactive called you, you would happily say that you not only backup daily, you back up continuously and automatically with Backblaze. You are part of the 10% and we thank you.
But we know that over 50% of you are Backblaze customers because either you or someone you know lost data first. The truth is that in this digital age, many of the memories we cherish and the other important information we store can be lost in the blink of an eye.
Tell Us What You Think
As one of the 10% of the people who back up their systems regularly, what do you think of our survey results? Do only 10% of the people you know back up their computers daily, or more often? Is it more than 10%? Less than 10%? Tell us what you think. You can comment below, tweet, post, email, whatever. Yev, our Social Marketing guru loves to hear from our customers; here’s your chance to make him smile.
