
Do you often create multiple revisions of files that you would like access to, so that you could "restore changes" from an older document, image or similar file? Do you have the original disks for applications and operating systems, or would you need to reinstall those from a backup?Ħ.

What "special stuff"-games, smartphone sync software, passwords, financial software-do you have that needs to be backed up?ĥ. People who use a computer for multimedia will likely need a more sophisticated solution than those who use their computer just for email and spreadsheets.Ĥ. The more you work in those mediums, the more backup storage space you're going to need. What are your multimedia backup needs? Photos, audio files and video files take up a ton of room. Or you may have old files that need to be archived somewhere as you plow forward into this brave new day of cloud computing with your new docs online.ģ. What are your document backup needs? Again, if you're in the cloud mostly with Google Docs, Office 365 or something similar, you may not have all that many documents on your computer's internal storage that you need to back up. If you're like me and you've got 50GB of email stored in Apple Mail from the past 15 years, you might need a more robust hard disk or online solution.Ģ. What are your email backup needs? If you've already got your email in the cloud (with iCloud, Gmail, Yahoo!, or similar programs) then you may get away with backing up less than some other folks need to. Here are some specific things to think about when considering backup options:ġ. The fundamental questions you're asking are (a) how much "near-line" (easily accessible) backup storage do you need and (b) is it time to move some or all of what you're doing to "the cloud"? (Not that we all need excuses the JFP has been going through server glitches in the past week, and we got caught with a backup that was more than a few days old when we hit a snag-and that was on a press day when I was out of town.) If you have no solution at the moment, then you'll have to spend at least a little bit of money, although the cost can be minimal if you're mostly worried about your personal machine.īefore buying software, though, it's smart to take an inventory. With today's cheap external hard drives and "cloud" solutions for backup, there really isn't an excuse to avoid backup. It's when you have to wonder, "have I lost that file forever?!" That you completely lose your Zen and go screaming to the nearest electronics store to learn of your fate. If you know your documents (and email and photos and other important items) are safely and securely backed up, then any problem with your computer is considerably less stressful. So be prepared.ĭid you know that every hard disk made has a specification called "mean time between failures" or MTBF? ("Mean," if you remember back to grade school, is the same as "average.") In other words, all hard drives fail eventually it's just a matter of time.īackup, therefore, is fundamental to maintaining peace of mind when it comes to computing. If you are a Massachusetts resident affected by a breach and wish to notify the Attorney General’s Office please call 61 or file a consumer complaint online.All hard drives fail eventually it's just a matter of time. Where applicable, certification of credit monitoring services pursuant to Chapter 93H, section 3A.Whether a report has been made to law enforcement and whether law enforcement is investigating the incident and.All the steps the person or agency has taken or plans to take relating to the incident, including updating the written information security program.Whether the person or agency maintains a written information security program.The type of personal information compromised, including, but not limited to:.The person responsible for the incident, if known.


A sample letter containing information you must provide to the Attorney General's Office is available here. If you choose not to use the online form, please mail your notice to the Attorney General's Office. Submission through the online portal is preferred, but not required. You will be asked to attach the Consumer Notice to the form. Use this online portal to provide written notification to the Attorney General's Office about a data breach.
