You don’t know how good you have it until it is gone.

While not the most glamorous part of computing, back-up systems and procedures pay off when needed. If you have ever lost a file or even an entire hard disk drive, you may understand how important backing up critical files can be. Newer computers now come with a CD or DVD burner which is all you need to start backing up those “mission critical” files. CD-R discs costs are down in the pennies and the cost of DVD media is following their lead. A back-up once a week may be sufficient for your needs, while some may require more frequent backup; for example, a central file server should be backed up everyday. On a peer-to-peer network, all computers should be considered depending on their contents.

External hard disk drives are another solution for your archiving needs. They are more costly than CD’s but offer a larger capacity with the same portability. All of these hardware options should come with a software package that should offer a back-up option in the program.

A small investment now will save time, money and headaches in the long run.