UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 32, Page 10
May 18, 1995
TechTalk
Prevent disaster! Back up your files!

     Nobody listens to warnings about making back-up copies of their
computer files until disaster strikes," according to Sigurd Andersen,
user services.
     "It's true," Jean Brown, archives, said. "Too many people forget
that individual departments are responsible for the integrity of the
information stored on their computers and diskettes."
     Brown said the University does have policies on electronic
recordkeeping (Policy I-14 and I-15) and information security (Policy
I-17).
     These policies are designed to help University departments
establish procedures for protecting critical University information in
all foreseeable circumstances, she explained.
     Many people think they are safe if they have made a copy of an
important file. "There are plenty of instances when that is not
sufficient," Andersen said. "Should a disk be damaged, multiple copies
of the same file on the same disk may be damaged."
     "In the event of a fire in an office," Brown said, "a department
that stores back-up files next to the computer might essentially have
to shut down." To prevent that from happening, she said, University
Archives works with departments to provide "off-site" storage for
diskettes containing back-up copies of their critical computer files.
"We will work with an individual department, helping them determine
what their back-up schedule should be," she said.
     "There are simple things individuals can do to start," Andersen
said. Copying important files from a system's hard disk to a diskette
and keeping that diskette in a safe location away from the computer is
the first step. Employees who have files larger than one diskette, a
large number of files or an entire file server to back up, may need
specific hardware and software to assist them, he said.
     Ron Nichols, user services, urges faculty and staff with special
back-up requirements to stop by the Microcomputing Resource Center.
"We can help determine if specialized software or hardware will make
it easier for a department to keep its information safe," he said.
     For information about off-site (away from the department) storage
of diskettes containing back-up files, contact Brown at 831-2750.
     For answers to specific questions about backing up files, contact
the Help Desk at consult@strauss.udel.edu or 831-6000.
     To see equipment designed to help a department back up its
information efficiently, stop by or contact the Microcomputing
Resource Center, 040 Smith Hall, mrcinfo@strauss.udel.edu, 831-8895.