Data Backup Digest

By now we all know the importance of backing up our data. A lot of our life now exists digitally, whether it’s photos we’ve captured, documents we’ve written or music we’ve purchased. If this data was to suddenly vanish then it’d be disastrous. The same applies to businesses, many of whom can’t exist without a digital presence. Since we are so reliant on this data, it’s imperative that it’s backed up constantly.

But while many are aware of the need to back up data that is stored on a computer, portable devices are often overlooked. Smartphones and tablets also have unique personal data on them, perhaps more than your desktop or laptop computer does. With our phones and tablets we can snap pictures or work on the go. There’s the need to back this data up too.

Android and iOS phones come with their own backup utilities. The Android one is a bit more limited, backing up only certain bits of data like apps or your phonebook. iOS has the benefit of a universal system in iCloud, allowing a certain number of your photos and videos to be backed up into the cloud.

If you want to go beyond the default, there are apps available on the respective marketplaces that will automatically back up everything that is on your portable device. There is one catch for Android, however: many of these apps will require your phone to be rooted.

Rooting is the process that allows you to overcome the boundaries that carriers and manufacturers have put on your device. Rooting will let you alter system applications and settings or run apps that require admin-level permission. This latter factor is what backup apps require and they won’t run to their full potential without your device being rooted.

However, rooting your device isn’t an entirely simple process. The exact how-to varies depending on the manufacturer and model. If the rooting instructions aren’t followed correctly then it can risk bricking your phone – this means your device will no longer be usable and in some cases there can be no going back from it. As such, if you’re considering rooting your phone then you need to make sure you know exactly what you’re doing first. If you have any doubts, don’t do it as the risk is too great to fail.

If you have rooted your phone, you can install these special apps that require admin access. It is very important to note that the process of rooting your phone can void your warranty. This means that if your phone breaks afterwards at any point, even if it’s not your fault, you won’t be covered under your warranty. This is because, in the carrier or manufacturer’s eyes, it could have been an action as a result of the rooting that has caused the problem.

However, for many the benefits of having a rooted device outweigh these potential negatives. When you consider the fact that it’ll make your portable device backup more thorough and easier, rooting certainly becomes something to consider.