Every responsible business owner knows that backing up files related to your business is not just smart – it’s essential. You may use a thumb drive. You may use the Cloud. You may even have a backup hard drive attached to your computer for just that reason. But if you’re not also backing up photos, emails, music and personal files, you could lose more than you bargained for in the next power outage.

Most of the really terrible stories data storage companies hear happen after the computer crashed. That’s because so many small business owners are diligent about backing up files for their business, but they completely forget about their personal information.

We understand why, too. Many business owners use a specific computer for personal use, and one for their business. But we’re willing to bet that you use your home computer for work, too. So while you always remember to backup your hard drive at work, you probably forget to do so at home. That means you’re not backing up photos, e-cards or important documentation that you could lose through file corruption after a storm.

Another Backup Hard Drive Can Make All the Difference

Pretend for a moment that the computer crashed, and you’ve just turned it back on. Suddenly, you see the BSOD – or the Blue Screen of death, as it’s commonly called by college students and techies. You try entering through safe mode; you try working with the screen commands before Windows even opens. But try as you might, you can’t access the information on your computer – and you forgot to plug in your backup hard drive. Sure, it reminds you that backing up files at home is important – but are you fully aware of what you may have lost?

• Pictures: Graduations, holidays, weddings, a honeymoon – all gone. If you’re not backing up your photos every time you upload them, you risk losing them for good.

• Receipts: Do you shop online? Do you save all of your receipts in your email? If you don’t, now is a good time to start. Those receipts will stay in the Cloud even after your computer crashed, so you can access them for returns, exchanges or tax purposes later.

• Bills: So many people pay their bills online now, and you may have that service run directly through your bank. But if you save questionable bills, utility cancellations or your credit information in a separate file on the computer, you could lose your records.

• Homework: If you’re taking classes online or if you have kids who use the computer, chances are that you’re backing up files through your word processing software. But once the computer crashed, those files were at risk of corruption – or deletion. The same goes for backing up photos used for science projects, book reports or even Power Point presentations. And teachers don’t like "the computer ate my homework" any more than the old story about the dog. A backup hard drive is an excellent way to save documents from disappearing into the great beyond.

So don’t forget that backing up files goes beyond saving your work-related information. You should get into the habit of backing up photos, receipts and other personal documentation as well. It might save you a lot of heartache in the end.