Protecting Your BuzzBID Data

Why Database Backups Matter

BuzzBID is a Windows desktop application. Unlike many cloud-based applications, your project database is stored on your own computer, which means you are responsible for protecting it.

While BuzzBID provides powerful estimating and takeoff capabilities, it does not automatically back up your local database to the cloud. If your computer experiences a hard drive failure, ransomware attack, theft, accidental deletion, or other data loss event, your BuzzBID data may be permanently lost unless you have a reliable backup strategy.

We strongly recommend that every BuzzBID customer have a backup plan.

Do I Really Need Backups?

Yes, absolutely.

Many customers assume that because they use Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another cloud service, their BuzzBID database is automatically protected. Unless you have specifically configured settings, this is not true.

Simply syncing files is not the same as maintaining reliable backups with version history and recovery capabilities.

If your database becomes corrupted, encrypted by ransomware, or accidentally deleted, a true backup solution can make the difference between recovering your work and starting over.

Your Backup Options

There isn't one "correct" solution. The important thing is that you have a dependable process that you trust.

Option 1: Manual Backups

You can periodically create copies of your BuzzBID database and store them somewhere safe, such as:

• An external USB drive
• A network server
• Another computer
• Cloud storage

This approach works well if you are disciplined about performing backups consistently.

Option 2: Automated Backup Software (Recommended)

Many customers prefer automated backup software that continuously protects their files without requiring them to remember to perform manual backups.

These services typically:

• Automatically back up your files
• Keep multiple historical versions
• Allow recovery after hardware failure
• Help protect against accidental deletion
• Help recover from ransomware events

Automatic backups are generally the safest and easiest long-term solution.  Below is a short list of possible backup solutions for your consideration.

A Solution We Personally Like

One service we've had good experience with is Backblaze Computer Backup.

At the time of writing, it costs approximately $99 USD per computer, per year, making it an affordable way to continuously protect your computer and your BuzzBID database.

Some features include:

• Unlimited cloud backup
• Automatic background operation
• Version history
• Simple file restoration
• Protection against computer failure

You can learn more here:

https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup/business-v2

Best Practices

We recommend following these guidelines:

• Maintain automatic backups whenever possible.
• Periodically verify that your backups are actually completing successfully.
• Keep more than one version of your files when possible.
• Test restoring files occasionally so you know the process works before an emergency occurs.
• Never assume that syncing alone is the same as a true backup.

Our Recommendation

Our recommendation is simple:  Have a reliable backup solution.

Whether you choose manual backups, your company's existing IT backup system, Backblaze, or another cloud backup provider, the important thing is that your BuzzBID database is protected before you ever need it.

Most customers never think about backups, until the day they wish they had one.

A few minutes spent setting up a backup solution today can save weeks or months of lost estimating work later.

Need Help?

If you're unsure where your BuzzBID database is stored or would like guidance on protecting it, our Support team is happy to help. While we cannot configure third-party backup software for you, we can help you locate your BuzzBID data and answer questions about what should be included in your backup strategy.