TECH TOOLBELT

September is National Preparedness Month

At Curry Construction, we know the importance of being prepared on the job. But preparedness isn’t just for the worksite—it matters for your personal tech too. Losing your phone or computer can be stressful, especially if it means losing photos, contacts, or important files. This September, in honor of National Preparedness Month, we’re highlighting simple ways to back up your devices so your data is safe, no matter what happens.

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Why Backing Up Matters

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Accidents happen: phones get dropped, computers crash, and devices can be lost or stolen. Backing up ensures:

• Photos & videos aren’t lost forever
• Contacts & important information remain accessible
• Personal files and documents are protected

Think of it like keeping a spare key to your house—backups give you peace of mind when things go wrong.

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Easy Steps to Back Up Your Devices

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• On Your Phone
  • iPhone: Use iCloud by going to Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now.
  • Android: Use Google Drive by going to Settings → Google → Backup → Back Up Now.
• On Your Computer
  • Cloud storage: Services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox automatically sync important files.
  • External drives: Plug in a USB hard drive and copy your important folders manually or use built-in backup software (like File History on Windows or Time Machine on Mac).
• Tips for Both
  • Schedule automatic backups if possible
  • Keep at least one copy offsite (cloud or separate location)
  • Test your backups periodically to make sure files can be restored

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If You Lose or Break Your Phone

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Even with backups, losing your phone is stressful. Here’s what to do:

1. Use Find My Device/iPhone: Locate your device or remotely lock/erase it.
2. Restore from backup: Once you have a new phone, restore your data from iCloud, Google Drive, or an external backup.
3. Update your passwords: Protect accounts that were signed in on your lost device.
4. Notify important contacts: Let family, friends, and coworkers know in case they need to reach you.

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Quick Builder’s Backup Checklist

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Even with backups, losing your phone is stressful. Here’s what to do:

• Enable automatic phone backups (iCloud or Google Drive)
• Back up important files on your computer (cloud or external drive)
• Keep at least one copy offsite or in the cloud
• Know how to restore data if your device is lost or damaged

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Bottom line: Just like preparing for emergencies on the jobsite, protecting your digital life is all about preparation. Backing up your phone and computer ensures that even if the unexpected happens, your memories, contacts, and important files stay safe.