Only 10% of U.S. Users Backup Data Daily – Backblaze

Backblaze, Inc., an online backup provider, announced the results from its 6th annual State of User backup survey conducted online by Harris Interactive Inc. among 2,021 U.S. adults ages 18 and older in June.

The findings reveal that despite growing reliance on digital devices to store all downloaded music, movies, photos and documents, only 10% of users backup their data daily, unchanged from 2012. That leaves an overwhelming 90% of those who own a computer vulnerable to losing everything stored on their machines.

"Most people say if their house caught fire, they would grab their photo albums first," said Gleb Budman, Backblaze. "But when a HDD breaks, there are no photo albums left to save. Unfortunately, 56% of our customers said they started backing up as a result of either themself or a friend losing data. Let’s make 2013 the year people stop waiting for disaster."

In each of the last six years, Backblaze has commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct its annual State of User backup survey. Computer users are asked: "How often do you backup all of the data on your computer?". The results show that for 2013 the results are nearly unchanged versus 2012 for all time periods. For example, in both 2012 and 2013 only 36% of computer owners backed up their data monthly or more often.

 
Frequency of backup

      
2013: How often do you backup
        all the data on your computer?

This year’s survey also revealed that nearly half of computer owners accumulate six or more months’ worth of photos, videos, documents, spreadsheets and more before backing up their systems. Despite research showing that one in two U.S. adults will lose data this year, an astounding 29% of U.S. adults have never backed up all of their data.

Survey Methodology
The surveys were conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Backblaze as follows: June 13-17, 2013 among 2,021 U.S. adults, May 31-June 4, 2012 among 2,209 U.S. adults, June 28-30, 2011 among 2,257 U.S. adults, June 3-7, 2010 among 2,071 U.S. adults, May 13-14, 2009 among 2,185 U.S. adults, and May 27-29, 2008 among 2,761 U.S.adults. In all surveys, respondents consisted of U.S. adult computer users (aged 18+), weighted to the U.S. adult population of computer users. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.