...
Since you will likely be working with documents, email and other data stored on your laptop--this is not stored on the network file servers--it is imperative that you develop a backup routine. You may choose to regularly copy the files on your laptop to EMU network storage. Or you may wish to burn your data on to a CD or external hard your EMU Google drive.
How often you backup your data is up to you. You should realize, however, that IS's ability to recover your data is directly linked to the frequency with which you back it up. If your laptop's hard drive fails you will lose every change made since your most recent backup. Generally you will want to backup at least twice a month, though weekly or daily backups are better.
...