In data storage and backup, there are a few, common sense guidelines to follow.

Your data is usually your most important asset.

More than half of studied businesses that experienced a critical loss of business data in a disaster failed within two years (University of Texas, 1998).

1.      All important data must be available as needed, and backed up. Most organizations find a daily backup is a minimum.

2.      Data needs to be organized so that it is easy to reach, store, and find.

3.      Backups must be reliable. Daily backups are the standard. This means they be automated as much as possible, since relying on someone to take an action is always a weak link in the chain. 

4.      Backups need to be stored at a separate location, protecting from a potential disaster that could broadly damage the main location.