Some say rules are meant to be broken. Not this one! As soon as you don’t follow this, it is likely to bite you in the digital ass(ets). I guess you could say it is part of digital Murphy’s Law. It does not matter if you’re a voice over artist, digital film producer, video editor, photographer, sound designer, or just someone who has digital files of any sort! In order to not lose your data (or files), you need to follow the 3-2-1 Backup Rule. It’s part of any good digital asset management workflow.
Here’s How It Works
It’s simple really. Not much to it. You just need to make it part of your workflow. It starts with three.
3 copies of any file – the original, and 2 other copies. Simple enough.
2 different types of storage media. For instance, one on a hard drive, and one on a data DVD.
1 copy off site. So simple to do these days with all the various “cloud” options. This off site copy saves you if there is any thing that happens in the environment where your other backups reside.
A Couple of Great Resources
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule is a concept that is touted by many. It’s been around for years. I first heard of it from The Tech Guy, Leo Laporte. He has a knack for explaining anything technical in a simple, yet thorough fashion. This is his explanation of how the 3-2-1 Backup Rule works. He is my tech mentor. So much to learn from Leo! I’ve always enjoyed his style and approach. Guess there could be something to me feeling connected to him because of his last name. Laporte. Mine is Laponis – both start with the letters L-A-P-O – and we have the same total number of letters in our last names. I almost feel related – lol. Anyway, check out his regular podcasts and radio show, The Tech Guy. You will learn a lot!
In his excerpt about the 3-2-1 rule he mentions a great web site of the American Society of Media Photographers, dpBestflow.org. Lots of great material and resources there. Here is helpful information about backups and the 3-2-1 Backup Rule. Be sure to check out all the other great things this site has to offer. So many great topics and resources!
Integrate it into Your Workflow
Such a simple concept that can save you so much in the way of NOT losing your data and files. Of course, as a media professional it is crucial to utilize a system like this. It’s the only way that your deliverables are always, well, deliverable. Just part of what makes you a pro. But even if your data and files are all just for fun, it’s no fun to lose all your work. I hope this simple technique serves you well. Please feel free to drop me an email at Mike@mikesvo.com. Thank you!
I used to be one who would use the same password (or two) for almost every login I had, almost everywhere. Along the way, I realized that’s not a good thing. Too many companies, servers, and retailers have been comprimised. You know what they say, if you haven’t been hacked yet, it’s because you just don’t know it! There are several ways you can protect yourself and minimize the risk of being hacked. Integrate most, or all of these, and you will improve your odds at better cybersecurity.
I ‘m a voice actor and voice over talent. I also teach college classes in audio and video production. In these courses, I work with 18-24 year olds all the time. It keeps me feeling young, and keeps the creative energy flowing! I love it!! We had kept an old IBM Selectric II typewriter around the studios to be able to “type” (print) labels. One day, I walked by and saw a student yanking the labels out of the typewriter, wadding them up and throwing them on the ground! I asked her why she was doing that. She said she kept making typos. I smiled, and showed her the “correcting key” that allows you to push the button, re-type the mistake and it lifts the mistake right off the page! She had no idea and was totally blown away!
Several students had no idea how vinyl records work. Seems so obvious to me. One student had no idea there were two sides to the LP. Another thought that the 33 1/3 LP vinyl disc only had one song. When I explained there were 6 songs on that one side of the album, they had no concept of how you could discern where one song ended and the next song began. I got to teach what was old and make it new! What fun!!
Twenty Thousand Hertz is simply amazing! To use their words, it is a podcast about “The stories behind the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds.” That sums it up perfectly! Everything from Voice Acting, Foley Sound, Voice of Siri, to Jingles, Slot Machines, THX Deep Note, and more! The topics are so well produced and the stories told so well, that it is one of the BEST podcasts I have ever heard. 
This podcast is also hosted by Leo Laporte (and Friends) and is part of the TWiT.tv Netcast Networks. Each episode of 
so worth your time, if you are interested in or work with technology. Whatever the latest topics in technology in a given week, that is usually the topic of conversation and inquiry for that week’s show.