Making back-ups of files is an essential element of data management. Regular back-ups protect against accidental or malicious data loss and can be used to restore originals if there is loss of data.

Alongside any back-up strategy, a data storage strategy should be in place - digital storage media are inherently unreliable unless they are stored appropriately and all file formats and physical storage media will ultimately become obsolete.

Ensuring security of data requires paying attention to physical security, network security and security of computer systems and files to prevent unauthorised access or changes to data, or disclosure and destruction of data.

Data encryption will maintain data security during transmission of files. At the Archive we recommend the use of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), an industry-standard encryption technology.

We have collated a number of useful resources on back-up, storage and secuirty and encyrption of of data.