Data Protection and Storage
This may be overkill... or maybe not?
Recently I've had some of my family members, as well as friends, lose important files because their only copy somehow managed to become corrupted, misplaced, deleted, or lost. I have recently started to believe that important files need to have 3 copies. Here is where I first learned the “3 copy” concept…
Back Up Overview | dpreview.org
The 3-2-1 Rule
The simplest way to remember how to back up your images safely is to use the 3-2-1 rule.
We recommend keeping 3 copies of any important file (a primary and two backups) We recommend having the files on 2 different media types (such as hard drive and optical media), to protect against different types of hazards.* 1 copy should be stored offsite (or at least offline).
*While 3-2-1 storage is the ideal arrangement, it’s not always possible, particularly for images in the early stages of the lifecycle. A second media type, for instance, is impractical for many people in the ingestion or working file stage. In these cases, many people make do with hard-drive-only copies of their data. Best practices, however, still require 3 copies and some physical separation between the copies.
Personally I keep one local copy, a copy backed-up to an external disc (or 2) that I sync using SuperDuper! or Time Machine, and a copy away from my house via a combination of MobileMe, Dropbox, and SmugMug (for family videos and family/client photos).