You can't have too many backups or How to set up a backup routine

I've lost count of the number of times we have tried to rescue a customer's data because their system failed and they didn't have a back up.
 
You can use tapes or disks to back up.  You can use the standard Microsoft back up software that comes with your server or PC, but even better use Acronis True Image which will back up absolutely everything on the hard drive and also save you loads of time when you have to restore.
 
20 tape backup schedule
 
You need 20 tapes/disks labelled as follows:
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
 
FRIDAY1
FRIDAY2
FRIDAY3
FRIDAY4
 
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
 
1st week use
MONDAY,TUESDAY,WEDNESDAY,THURSDAY, FRIDAY1
2nd week use
MONDAY,TUESDAY,WEDNESDAY,THURSDAY, FRIDAY2
3rd week use
MONDAY,TUESDAY,WEDNESDAY,THURSDAY, FRIDAY3
4th week use
MONDAY,TUESDAY,WEDNESDAY,THURSDAY, FRIDAY4
 
Whenever the end of the month occurs then use the appropriate Month tape instead of the usual tape and afterwards put the tape away, preferably off site or in a fireproof safe.  This end of month backup can be scheduled to coincide with an event such as a 'pre' accounts end of period routine.
 
Note: In order to introduce fresh tapes into the sequence you can leave the month-end tapes unlabelled until you need them.  When you do the 'month end backup' use the normal day tape and then re-label it and pull it out of the sequence, replacing it with a fresh tape.
 
Final Word: Backups are a MUST - Get used to it. You will
love the Peace of Mind it will bring. And if your hard
drive is approaching 3 years of age . . . You had better be
prepared!
 
As usual - if you'd like some help setting up a backup routine then talk to me and don't forget to check periodically that your backup is actually backing up and verify your back up data.