Build a complete backup system
There are many options for protecting your data – your best bet is to use all of them
Time Machine
> Apple’s backup system is built in to macOS, and offers key benefits: it requires almost no effort to get working, enables you to recover your entire system from a backup drive, and provides ways to get at older versions of files – and those that have been deleted entirely. The snapshots feature stores content on local drives with enough space, too, so you may be able to recover a recently removed or edited document even if your Time Machine drive is unavailable. Wireless backups are an option, through Apple’s AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule, or a compatible third-party NAS. However, be mindful that wireless backups can be sluggish if your network isn’t fast enough.
Local clones
Some argue disk clones and backups are not technically the same thing; but the lines are very blurred. Cloning used to be a lengthy one-off operation, but that’s not the case today. Modern cloning apps such as Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper are robust and flexible, and although an initial clone may take hours to complete, subsequent incremental clones only update what needs changing. This can be done to a schedule. Cloning gives you an exact copy of your Mac’s drive at a given moment in time. Unlike Time Machine, you can’t recover multiple iterations of a document from a clone, but you can start up your Mac from it – a massive timesaver in the event of catastrophic internal drive failure.
Back up to the cloud
Local backups are great, but they are only part of a complete solution. You should also back up your files to the cloud. By ensuring you have a copy of all of your files in a remote location, you safeguard yourself against truly terrible events, such as your house burning down or flooding, taking all of your local backups with it. Also, cloud backups can be beneficial in other circumstances, such as giving you the ability to quickly recover a file you need even when you’re away from your Mac.
Use RAID
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) utilises multiple drives to boost performance or create multiple copies automatically. RAID 1 is the relevant mode for the purposes of backing up files; the contents of two disks are mirrored – what’s written to one is written to the other at the same time. Should one disk fail, you can replace it and rebuild the array from the other, provided it doesn’t also fail at the same time. This kind of setup is very useful if you store vital data on an external drive, because it means the failure of one disk won’t wipe everything out. The chances of two failures at any given moment are extremely slim; even so, consider adding daily cloning and/or cloud backup to your backup system when using RAID.
Protect your drives
Whichever local backup systems you use, you must protect your hardware. At the very least, any powered drives should be plugged in to surgeprotected sockets. But consider investing in a UPS (uninterruptible power supply), which will also enable your Mac to continue to run for a short time in the event of a power outage, until it can be shut down in the normal manner. Look into purchasing multiple drives, too. If you’re cloning your Mac, consider swapping the drive on a regular basis; keep one in a secure location away from your home (such as an office safe, or a locked box at a relative’s house). This might sound a touch paranoid, but you can never have too many copies of important data.