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IS encourages all users to store their files on the network file servers. Data stored on the network is regularly backed up and is protected from unauthorized access. Network file access is available for users to access their network files from any computer with an internet connection.
If you choose to store data on your laptop, we recommend that you store all your documents in the My Documents folder. Storing files in My Documents will make it easier to locate documents, secure them and back them up.
Data Backups
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 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, see VPN.
Faculty and staff desiring the convenience of cloud services are strongly encouraged to use EMU’s Google Drive and Google Team Drives. Users must not store confidential data in personal cloud storage services (Dropbox, Personal Google Drive Account, iCloud, etc) or on personal devices. See page 11 of the IS Policy Manual for more information about what constitutes confidential data, and to read about the risks and consequences of storing confidential data on personal cloud storage, or on personal devices.
Data Backups
IS does not recommend storing data locally on your laptop whenever possible, as this data is vulnerable to total loss in the event of a hardware failure or loss of the laptop.
If a user must store data locally on their laptop, IS recommends that the data be backed up whenever possible to an EMU network drive or an EMU Google Drive account.
Security
Because laptop computers are intended to be portable, they are more fragile than desktop units and thus more susceptible to damage. Additionally, because laptops are designed as a unit, a single defective part can render the entire laptop unusable--you can't simply replace a power, network or audio connector if they are damaged, it typically requires replacing the entire motherboard.
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