How often should you backup computer files?

Peter Johnson, a computer careers instructor at South Central College, said a good rule of thumb is to back up more frequently depending on how “painful” recovery will be after the files are lost.

A small-business owner who relies on computerized accounting information to keep her business running smoothly, for example, might want to backup files at the end of every work day. In the case of a failure, it could take hours of work to reenter customer data.

“Backups should just be a regular part of doing business,” said Johnson, himself a former small-business owner.

For the family computer, a weekly backup might be enough.

Computer owners should also check their backup system’s restore function regularly to make sure all files are being saved.

Johnson added another tip aimed at small-business owners: Your data is so valuable, he said, one safety net might not be enough.

“There should be redundant copies,” he said. “Don’t just rely on one backup.”

— Dylan Thomas