Almost everyone who has experienced significant data loss did not think it could happen to them, even though it happens periodically. The results can be catastrophic for your research project or for you personally. You can prevent data loss by following good backup practices.

Choosing the right way to store your data can help you work more flexibly, easily, and quickly. Well-thought-out storage solutions can also simplify version control and collaboration with others.

IT professionals strongly recommend:

■ Making two or even three backup copies of all important documents and data that are not stored on a network file server (storage media failure rates are probably higher than you think!)

■ Keeping one backup copy in a location separate from the others (to keep your files safe in case of fire, flood, theft, etc.)

■ Using different types of storage media or storage from different manufacturers (to protect against multiple media failures, such as a faulty batch of disks).