Computing & Information Services
Electronic Data Backup and Retention
This document summarizes the categories of electronic information managed and/or stored by Computing & Information Services (CIS) as of August 5, 2009.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPUTING
Servers
Data that reside on Unix servers are backed up nightly. Each week a complete backup set is moved to a secure secondary site. One full backup set per month is retained for eighteen months.
Administrative data and web services that reside on Windows and Macintosh servers are backed up nightly. Each week a complete backup set is moved to a secure secondary site and retained for a year.
Desktop and laptop computers used by administrative staff
Specific files on selected staff computers are backed up weekly. Each week a complete backup set is moved to a secure secondary site and retained for a year.
ACADEMIC COMPUTING
Servers
Data that cannot be recreated from other systems are backed up nightly to media housed in a secure secondary site. Such backups are retained for 6 months.Desktop and laptop computers
These platforms are not systematically backed up by CIS. However, CIS offers assistance to faculty and students to help them back up data to academic servers and devices such as removable hard drives.Computers in departmental computing laboratories, classrooms, and IRCs
CIS does not back up these platforms. Information left on IRC computers is preserved for two weeks and then erased. Data placed on departmental lab computers and computers located in classrooms (for use with projectors) are not backed up by CIS.CAMPUS-WIDE COMPUTING
Electronic mail
Reed email servers are backed up by CIS and messages are kept for a maximum of four weeks.