Back It Up!

I've worked in a lot of non-profit organizations, and one thing that most of them have had in common is the lack of an IT department. As a geek-in-residence, I've done double duty as LAN administrator, PC repairman, software trainer, and help desk. In addition to, you know, my regular job. So I've picked up a few things here and there.

One thing that is often overlooked is the importance of off-site backup. Let's face it, most of us know that it's important to backup, but how often are you actually doing it? And even if you've got your files automatically backed up to the network, what happens if the building burns down? You need to back up your important data off site. Think of it as Data Insurance.

Personally, I've been very happy with Amazon's service. You download an app called JungleDisk, tell it which directories you want to back up, and it sits silently in the background making sure your data is backed up (and encrypted) to Amazon's servers. You're charged based on how much you back up. And they support Kiva!

Another outfit I haven't tried is DigitalBucket. They're offering 5G of free storage to 501(c)(3) non-profits in the US and registered charities abroad. See their offer here.

Now go forth, and back up!