March 3, 2023

March 31st is World Backup Day

Help spread awareness of the importance of backing up important data all year long!

Why are backups important?

UW Administrative Policy Statement 2.6, Information Security Controls and Operational Practices, states:

“University of Washington shall … appropriately protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of institutional information that it creates, receives, maintains, or transmits.”

A failure to back up data could lead to unavailability of institutional information; impact the work of students, faculty, and staff; and cause reputational harm to the University.

What are the threats to data and devices?

  • Lost and stolen devices

A major cause of breaches is exposure of data on lost or stolen devices.

Backing them up will help determine what data is at risk.

  • Ransomware

Cybercriminals can lock up your files and make them inaccessible until a sum of money is paid. Sometimes they fail to unlock the data even if the ransom is paid.

More on Ransomware

  • Hard drive & hardware failures

It’s a hard fact: hard drives fail!

Keep important data backed up on an external or network drive.

  • Earthquakes & other disasters

Multiple copies of files, devices, and systems will speed up recovery after natural disasters and other catastrophes.

What to do

  • Back up all data and devices that you are responsible for.
  • Use multiple methods or formats to back them up.
  • Ensure that at least one backup is not connected to your computer; backups that are connected can become infected by ransomware and viruses.
  • Be sure to test your backups and restoration process before a catastrophe strikes.

The information below is available as an infographic that can be shared online and/or printed out and posted in common areas.

Instructions for printing are on our infographics page.

Share the Infographic