Q. Battery Backups, what are they and why should I care?

Q. Battery Backups, what are they and why should I care?

A. A battery backup is just as the box says- it is an extra, limited time, power supply backup that can save your computer, your data, and your business!

Normally your equipment will plug into the battery backup and then the battery backup will plug into the wall. Most of the time you can get battery backups that will also feature built-in surge protectors or power regulators. This is a double save-your-business bonus! A battery backup allows you time to save your work or backup and gracefully (properly) shut down and unplug your computer equipment, in case of a power outage (blackout or brownout), or power spikes (lightning hits the transformer next to your building, etc.).

If you cannot save your data (instant power outage), you will obviously lose the data you have been working on. But it can be even worse- random power fluctuations (brownout, blackout, spike) can be devastating to your equipment and data, it can cause you to have corrupt, missing, or wiped out data, as well as burnout, destroy, or ruin your equipment.

When your data is your entire business and your business is your life, spending a little extra money to protect it can be more than worthwhile, it can literally be lifesaving!

The Bare Minimum
If you absolutely cannot get a battery backup then by all means, if you know there is going to be bad weather, especially overnight, we recommend the following: 1) make sure you backup (and take a copy home with you), 2) shutdown all of your electronic equipment, and 3) possibly even unplug your electronic equipment from the wall and the phone jacks if the weather is really bad.