World Backup Day: Acronis Study Examines Digital Responsibility

Data protection solution provider Acronis released the results of a new study that confirms personal information is considered more important to users than the devices it is stored on.

And even though a majority of respondents said they value their digital information at more than $1,000, only 5 percent would be willing to pay as much if their information was stolen. Ninety-four percent of respondents said they would be willing to spend up to $100 to preventatively back up their data, according to the survey.

Acronis released the study in conjunction with World Backup Day, which exists to raise awareness about the importance of protecting personal data.

For the study, Acronis polled 366 respondents nationwide in February to highlight the importance of backing up digital information. According to Acronis, more than 75 percent of consumers store their data digitally, with 50 percent noting their information is more precious to them than their devices. For instance, respondents said they would be three times as upset if they lost their photos than if they were to lose their smartphone, proving consumers understand the need to protect their personal data.

However, even though the public understands the importance of protecting digital information, less than half of respondents currently back up their data externally. And among those who do utilize a data backup system, only one-third of respondents said they are protecting their entire computer system. (Similar responses were captured in a recent Lookout Mobile study on Mobile Security IQ.)

“The majority of consumers do not realize the importance of backing up their digital memories, including everything from precious photos to financial information, until a catastrophe occurs,” said Serguei Beloussov, CEO of Acronis, in a statement. “What consumers should understand is that there are easy and inexpensive ways to safeguard the digital data that they’re most afraid of losing.”