Surprisingly, 87% of people back up their data, but data loss accidents persist

Bottom line: To commemorate World Backup Day on March 31 – just one day before April Fool's Day – Western Digital commissioned a survey of 6,118 people across 10 countries, conducted a month ago, to better understand their backup practices. The findings revealed that 87 percent of respondents do back up their data, either manually or automatically. Their main motivations include fear of losing important files (83 percent), the need to free up device space (67 percent), and protection against cyber threats (42 percent).

Despite these efforts, data loss remains widespread: 63 percent of respondents reported losing data due to device failures, accidental deletions, or cyberattacks.

Personal data has become ever more valuable in today's digital world. From health records and financial documents to cherished memories captured in photos and videos, the importance of safeguarding this information cannot be overstated. The survey underscores just how many consumers have come ...