In addition to selecting the appropriate storage location for research data, regularly creating backup copies of original files and archiving them (so called backup routines) plays a crucial role. BackupThe term backup means data protection or data recovery and refers to the copying of data as a precaution in the event that data is lost, e.g. due to hard drive damage or accidental deletion. The data can be restored with a backup. For this purpose, the data record is additionally saved on another data carrier (backup copy) and stored offline or online. Read More files should always be stored on a different medium and separately from the original data. After performing a backup, it is advisable to check the data for accuracy and completeness.

The 3-2-1 rule has proven to be an optimal backup strategy:

• 3: Create three copies of the data (the original plus two backups).
• 2: Store the copies on two different storage technologies (e.g., internal hard drive and network drive).
• 1: Keep one copy externally (at a different physical location, such as in the cloud).

Many universities offer backup services and routines, which are mostly automated. However, access to these services is usually lost upon leaving the institution.

Therefore, researchers should always develop their own well-planned backup strategies to protect their data. The following questions can be helpful:

• What exactly should be backed up, and how often?
• Should a backup be created for all data or only specific parts?
• On which systems should backups be stored?
• What is the primary system for original files, and which systems will be used for backups?
• Is quick access to the data important?
• How frequently should backups be performed?