Verifying that backups work: from judgement to finish
Separate two things in verifying that backups work: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…
Running a restore drill: from judgement to finish
Most people do not fail at running a restore drill from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the doing…
Sync is not backup: the four usual traps
Let us set the limits of sync is not backup first: it reliably improves devices that stay pleasant to use, and it does not deliver overnight.…
Recovering deleted files: what to do first
Separate two things in recovering deleted files: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…
Checking drive health: from judgement to finish
Most people do not fail at checking drive health from misunderstanding it. They fail because understanding is not doing. What follows is the doing…
Privacy in the cloud: the four usual traps
Most people want privacy in the cloud to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad day.…
A shared drive at home: start with the conclusion
Most people want a shared drive at home to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad day.…
Archiving versus deleting: start with the conclusion
If you only read one paragraph, read this: archiving versus deleting depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange…
Handover documentation: one full walkthrough
If you have already tried handover documentation and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…
A yearly tidy-up rhythm: one full walkthrough
Separate two things in a yearly tidy-up rhythm: the outcome you want and the action you can sustain. When the gap is too wide, shrink the action…
Naming conventions that scale: start with the conclusion
If you have already tried naming conventions that scale and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an…
How deep folders should go: what to do first
Let us set the limits of how deep folders should go first: it reliably improves backups that survive a power cut, and it does not deliver overnight.…
Dating files consistently: what to do first
If you have already tried dating files consistently and dropped it, the fault is usually in the setup: a starting point set too high, an environment…
When to add version numbers: rhythm decides it
Anyone who has spent time on when to add version numbers has a failure story: a strong start, a collapse in the middle, then silence. This is not…
Three places for critical files: start with the conclusion
Most people want three places for critical files to make things better. The workable version of that goal is steadier: a floor you can hit on a bad…
Choosing an external drive: putting effort where it counts
Let us set the limits of choosing an external drive first: it reliably improves devices that stay pleasant to use, and it does not deliver overnight.…
Encrypting cloud storage: putting effort where it counts
If you only read one paragraph, read this: encrypting cloud storage depends on how the situation is set up, not on how you feel at the time. Arrange…
How incremental backup works: the workable version
Anyone who has spent time on how incremental backup works has a failure story: a strong start, a collapse in the middle, then silence. This is not…
Structuring a photo archive: the complete picture
Anyone who has spent time on structuring a photo archive has a failure story: a strong start, a collapse in the middle, then silence. This is not…
Storing video sensibly: putting effort where it counts
Put storing video sensibly back into a real week, with overtime, travel and days you cannot be bothered. Any plan that only survives good months will…