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Make secure backups using an ISO file

YOU’LL NEED THIS

WINCDEMU https://wincdemu. sysprogs.org

YOU’VE ALMOST CERTAINLY come across an ISO file before. They’re typically used to bundle huge amounts of data, such as in Windows installers, in a widely compatible format. With the format being so predictable, it’s not surprising that new uses for it have since been found. One is to create virtual optical discs, which exist purely as bundles of data, and have no physical presence at all. The data in the bundle complies with the ISO standards, so it can be opened reliably and repeatedly across multiple operating systems, which makes it a safe format for producing manual backups. Because reading them doesn’t rely on a specific piece of software, you should be able to open an ISO file for years to come.

1 ISO AS PART OF YOUR BACKUP STRATEGY

We’ve mentioned the 3-2-1 rule of backup before: always maintain at least three complete copies of your data across two different media, of which one should be off-site (that is, not in your home). If you’re going to follow our advice here and you’re not also using an online backup service to store your data offsite, we recommend combining it with backups made to external hard drives or USB sticks using regular backup software.

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Maximum PC
December 2023
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