By Owais Mohammed
Every click, upload, and search fuels a massive, ever-growing ocean of information. In 2024 alone, an estimated 147 zettabytes of data were created globally, a staggering number equivalent to stacking 149 billion 1TB hard drives. Our digital lives generate a vast amount of data from social media posts to financial transactions — we leave digital footprints everywhere. But what happens when these footprints fade away due to hardware failures, cyberattacks, or accidental deletions?
Western Digital’s World Backup Day Study 2025 reveals that data loss is a widespread challenge, with 63% of global respondents having experienced data loss due to device failure, accidental deletion, or cyberattacks. In India, the issue is even more alarming — nearly 71% of Indian respondents reported data loss, a rate higher than many developed markets. Despite the risk, 31% respondents still don’t back up their data, underestimating their vulnerability.
The growing data deluge: Right from social media feeds to home videos, content creation is at an all-time high. Globally, people capture 5.3 billion photos daily, with 4.88 billion smartphone users worldwide taking at least one picture per day.
In India, the number of smartphone users is predicted to grow to 1.55 billion by the year 2040, fuelling a data explosion like never before. Monthly data consumption per user has already grown from 17GB in 2023 to 19GB in 2024 and is forecasted to reach 66GB by 2030. With growth this fast, the need for high-capacity storage and efficient data management will become a necessity.
Beyond storage, a reliable backup solution is a requirement for all digital users. From losing cherished memories – from a child’s first steps to major milestones, can be devastating. As digital content creation surges, scalable, cost-effective, back-up solutions are crucial to safeguard data.
Digital hygiene is peace of mind: While backup awareness is rising in India, only 37% of respondents actively follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: keeping three copies of your data on two different media types, with one stored off-site for maximum protection — a proven strategy for data resilience. Here are some steps to secure your digital life:
One, be it photos, videos, work files or financial records, choose trusted storage solutions to avoid counterfeit products that may compromise security. Two, regularly declutter your devices by removing duplicates, outdated documents, or downloads to boost performance. Three, set up automatic backups and ensure that it’s checked periodically. Utilise trusted storage devices to create multiple copies in different locations. Four, extra security by encrypting sensitive data to protect your data from unauthorised access.
By prioritising digital hygiene and a strong backup plan, you’re not just safeguarding files but ensuring peace of mind. It is the right time now to control your digital well-being—because securing memories is as important as capturing them.
The writer is director of sales – India, Middle East, and Africa, Western Digital
