After a recent experience, I have been reminded about how important it is to back up data that one deems important.  But making a simple copy of a file isn’t enough.  Data redundancy is needed.  Here’s my simple advice:

1.  Make a copy of the file in a temporary backup location on the actual computer.

2.  Burn a copy of the file(s) to a CD or DVD.

3.  Export a copy of the file(s) to a USB flash drive and / or external hard drive.

Now, here’s another important aspect.  Back up the data off site.  Let’s imagine something catastrophic was to happen to the location you stored the computer, the discs and drives.  Off site server solutions are available for free, and for fee, depending on your needs.  Dropbox is a great option, as one can easily store up to 2 GB of data.

And finally, the all important final step to backups.  If the data is crucial to you in some capacity, don’t trust the computers, servers or media that the information is stored on.  Make paper copies.  Yep, print the data as a means of backing up.  If its that important, do it.

So, there you have it… my simple advice to backup data.  While it is probably not much in news to most of you, maybe it will be helpful to one or two of you.