CADDManager on February 25th, 2015

Like most people, I have documents, data and information stored in Google Drive.  Like most IT people, I am concerned about backups.  I find that I have backup processes in place and multiple options.  I have backups of my backups.  I have cloud backups and local hard drive backups and external device backups and thumb drive backups.  I have backups.

So when I think about my Google stuff…  where is the backup.  They have backup options for my data, photos and items that on on my devices.  They offer cloud storage.  But who backs up their backups?

Here is a snippet from one of their “about” pages I found…

Rather than storing each user’s data on a single machine or set of machines, we distribute all data—including our own—across many computers in different locations. We then chunk and replicate the data over multiple systems to avoid a single point of failure. We randomly name these data chunks as an extra measure of security, making them unreadable to the human eye.

While you work, our servers automatically back up your critical data. So when accidents happen—if your computer crashes or gets stolen—you can be up and running again in seconds.

Lastly, we rigorously track the location and status of each hard drive in our data centers. We destroy hard drives that have reached the end of their lives in a thorough, multi-step process to prevent access to the data.

So – they back up all the stuff they have… but what about my data?  how do I back that up myself?

Enter Google Takeout.

TakeOut1

Google takeout allows you to download to a zip file that you can store on your hard drive and backup yourself.

Just log in to your Google account and go to https://www.google.com/takeout

You can select what to backup:

TakeOut2

And then hit Next

Select any options you may want in delivery – you can add it directly to Google Drive.  That would not address my desire to have the data in hand, so I choose the download option.

TakeOut3

Then click on Create Archive.  It does its work and sends you an email when completed.  Once it is done, you get an email from “Google Takeout” similar to this…

Your account, your data.

The Google data archive you started on February 24, 2015 is ready. It will be available for you to download until March 3, 2015. The archive contains your +1s, Bookmarks, Calendar, Drive, Google Photos, Google Play Books, Google+ Circles, Google+ Pages, Google+ Stream, Groups, Hangouts, Maps (your places), Messenger, Profile, and YouTube data.

Manage archives – click to see all archive

Download archive – click to get your archive

Just click on the link and get your stuff.  Your download times out, so go get it prior to the expiration date.

TakeOut4

It downloads your zip and you can store it anywhere you like.

Could not be easier.  Give it a try!

Google FAQ on this topic.

 

Leave a Reply