Backing up your data is one of the most important, and most overlooked, aspects of your business. It is critical that you have a backup plan for your computer(s), especially the data files, which would be difficult to replace.  Your accounting data file is one of the most important, especially if you do not print hard copies of accounting records.  How long would it take you and how much would it cost you to have to re-create all of that information?  Sure, there are data recovery services out there, but they sometimes can be very expensive, and there is no guarantee that they can recover everything.

My suggestion is to have a backup plan.  It is important to somehow backup your data and keep it offsite, somewhere other than your office.  This is just in case there is a fire, or a break in, you want to be prepared.  You could back up to a tape, a disk, a memory stick or a portable hard drive every day and then take it with you.  Or, you can subscribe to an online backup service, which is what I suggest.  The data is encrypted and you can restore it when you need it.  The service I use, and recommend is Mozy, but there are lots of different services available.  Check out their limit of data size, the cost, the encryption method, the guarantees, the ease of restoring your data and how it works before you sign up for a service.

This will give you just one more little piece of mind and, if you ever need it, something to be thankful for finally getting done.  Please let me know if you have found a service or option you really like, I am always looking for great information to share with my clients.