9.3
How-to
9.3 
9.2
A simple backup plan for your Mac
Time Machine, iCloud and an off-site copy: the three layers that protect your files without effort.
Everyone knows they should back up. Few people do it in a way that survives a stolen laptop or a house fire. Here is the plan we use, and it takes about thirty minutes to set up.
Layer 1: Time Machine
Buy an external SSD at least twice the size of your Mac’s storage and turn on Time Machine. For a desktop Mac, leave it plugged in. For a laptop, plug it in at your desk or use a network drive. Turn on encryption when asked.
Layer 2: iCloud Drive
Keep Desktop and Documents in iCloud Drive. It is not a backup in the strict sense — deletions sync — but it means your working files survive the loss of the Mac.
Layer 3: an off-site copy
Use a cloud backup service or swap a second drive with a friend or the office once a month. This is the layer that protects against theft, fire and ransomware.
Test it
Twice a year, restore a random file from each layer. A backup you have never restored from is a hope, not a plan.
Devices in this article
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