Overview
If you have important data you want to keep, you need to start backing it up. The life of a hard drive is finite with a typical lifespan of about four years, sometimes drastically less. Data can also be lost through a number of unexpected causes such as power surges, accidental deletion, computer viruses, and file corruption.
How often you back up data is relative to the frequency in which your data changes and the importance of the data to you. Back up your data as often and in as many places as you feel necessary to ensure the integrity of your data. Redundancy is key.
The following is a list of recommendations for which media to use and how often to store backups for common types of data.
Storage Devices |
Backup Frequency |
|
|---|---|---|
| Papers and Related School Work | Daily | |
| Computer | External Hard Drive | Weekly to Monthly |
| E-mail and Address Books | Monthly | |
| Pictures/Movies/Music | Monthly | |
| Bookmarks | As Needed |
