How much do you trust your device memory? Definitely more than you should. According to the statistics only 33% of users back up their data regularly, and more than 77% of people have already experienced data loss.

An annual tradition which started as a simple reddit post back in 2011, World Backup Day is celebrated on 31st March 2025 to provide a reminder of the importance of backing up data. To mark the occasion, Kaspersky shares practical advice on how to create new beneficial digital habits to ensure your backups are safe.

The first question that should be taken into consideration is: what exactly needs to be backed up? The answer seems to be lying on the surface.

The more you back up – the better. Work-related documents, family photos, financial info, health records, logins and passwords, and even content shared within messengers. In fact, all of this needs to be backed up using reliable storage methods.

There are several reasons why it is recommended to copy as much data as you can.

First of all, the device on which the information is stored may simply be lost, stolen or damaged. For example, UK’s South Western Railway reports that at least 5 smartphones are lost per day on its network, which is almost 1800 devices per year.

Among other potential threats to data safety are ransomware attacks. This is a type of malware that blocks a computer and then demand a ransom for its release. In some cases, even paying the ransom does not help to restore data on an infected device.

Despite these substantial risks, in everyday life it’s almost impossible (and to some extent pointless) to back up everything. Our devices contain gigabytes of information, most of which has no value. Creating backup storages of such a scale is time-consuming and expensive.

The main advice is to rank data correctly. Try to assort the items needing to be backed up by evaluating their relevance, recency and recovery options.

If a file, record or password is outdated or may be replaced by a newer version, backup may be safely ignored. If it is a new or highly valuable piece of information, backing up is necessary and preferably there should be more than one copy.

The art of backup

The next step towards data loss prevention is finding the suitable backup method to select. Obviously, it depends on multiple factors: type of data, type of device, pricing, user’s personal preferences and habits.

The most popular backup options are generally cloud or external storage services.  Both of these methods have their pros and cons. For example, cloud services give you instant access to information wherever you are, but they require regular subscription payments.

At the same time, external hard drives are reliable storages which only require one payment, but access to information on these devices is only possible when they are at hand.

Therefore, cloud storage is regarded as the perfect option for storing files and photos which should always be available in a few clicks, while external storage services are suitable for data archives and huge files, such as movies or videos which you rarely use. Overall statistics show that nowadays most people choose cloud technology as their main storage option.

Specific data such as passwords, ID or financial details require even more secure storage methods.

Among the potential solutions password manager is an option that protects sensitive personal information, prevents its loss and provides immediate access to it at any time. Automatic filling of authentication and banking data means users do not have to memorise important information and reliably protects data from being compromised.

While choosing backup and storage options it’s highly recommended to consider all the aspects. To get backing up into a real habit, the method should not only be reliable and effective, but also suitable and convenient for you personally.

Enhanced protection

As it has been already mentioned, single manual backup might not be enough to protect data from being lost. World Backup Day is the right time to remember that data might be vulnerable and take some proactive steps to secure it. Kaspersky has created some tips on how to do it effectively:

• Follow the rule 3-2-1. One of the most popular backup strategies is to have at least 3 copies of important data, store it on 2 different storage types, and make at least 1 copy off-side (cloud or external physical location).
• Set up automatic backups. Most devices and services have a preinstalled backup function, which automatically creates a backup if you forget to make a copy in time.
• Use a reliable security solution. Comprehensive digital protection with a specific anti-ransomware protection mechanism, such as in Kaspersky Premium, prevents device infection and protects your data from both local and remote-access ransomware attacks.
• Make regular checks. It’s necessary to test your backups workability on a regular basis to notice the malfunction in time and fix it.

Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of Interior, has announced the launch of an Online Visa Approval Center to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and reduce corruption in the visa application process.

Commissioned by the President in December, the new system ensures that applicants no longer need to visit a visa office, know anyone in the system, or lobby for approvals.

At a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on the implementation of the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) 2025, yesterday in Abuja, Dr. Tunji-Ojo said the visa is considered a very important document by the government because it is an instrument of migration management and an instrument of economic development.

The minister explained that Nigeria has to strike a delicate balance between national security and, of course, the ease of migration.

“And we think that it’s something that we can do and something we will do.

“We don’t have a physical Visa Approval Center. If you apply for a Nigerian visa anywhere in the world, you do so online. We process it here in Nigeria, and if approved, you receive your e-visa in your email,” he explained.

To enhance efficiency, the government has set a 48-hour deadline for processing e-visas.

“It is unprofessional and unacceptable for the Nigeria Immigration Service not to approve or provide feedback within 48 hours,” the minister stated.

“It breaks my heart that people need to lobby to even get visas to Nigeria. It shouldn’t be so. It shouldn’t be.

“For anybody that is qualified, for anybody that wants to do legitimate activities in Nigeria, such people should be able to come to Nigeria easily. And this is why we are opening our space. Mr. President is interested in foreign direct investments.”

Further, he said Nigeria is interested in partnering with the rest of the world to develop its economy but, “We can’t do that when we allow bottlenecks to hold us down. So these reforms, basically, are aimed at opening our space, enhancing national security, and we hope that the primary responsibilities of the visa scheme will be achieved.”

Kemi Nandap, controller general, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), said the NIS would fully digitize its e-visa platform and reduce visa classifications from 79 to 44 to enhance accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in the new visa policy.

She said, “At the core of this policy is the new e-visa platform—a fully digitized, centralized system that revolutionizes how foreign nationals interact with our country’s entry procedures. As part of this transformation, the Nigerian Visa Policy 2024 underwent a comprehensive review, resulting in a significant reduction in visa classifications from 79 to 44.

“These categories have been logically grouped to simplify procedures, reduce complexities, and greatly improve the user experience. Importantly, we have maintained the original purpose and intent of each visa class throughout this reform.”

Mr. Takao Shimokawa, director general, Economic Development Department at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has visited the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to discuss the forthcoming launch of the Nigeria-Japan Startup Hub Project.

Mr. Dejo Olawunmi, director of IT Infrastructure Solutions at NITDA and Mr. Takao Shimokawa, director general, Economic Development Department at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

This is in a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.

During his visit, Mr. Shimokawa was received by Mr. Dejo Olawunmi, director of IT Infrastructure Solutions at NITDA.

Their discussions focused on advancing technological innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, and enhancing venture capital development to support early-stage startups in Nigeria.

The Nigeria-Japan Startup Hub Project is designed to provide Nigerian startups with access to Japanese expertise, mentorship, and investment opportunities.

The initiative aims to create a collaborative environment where local entrepreneurs can scale their businesses by leveraging Japan’s advanced technology and business models.

By bridging Nigerian startups with Japanese investors and industry leaders, the project seeks to drive sustainable growth and innovation in Nigeria’s tech industry.

This partnership underscores the increasing economic and technological cooperation between the two nations, positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global startup landscape.

With the hub set to launch soon, stakeholders anticipate that it will provide critical resources for startups, enabling them to compete in the global market and contribute to Nigeria’s digital economy.