Thread by @reappropriate

Here’s some totally unsolicited (but important) advice for trainees and junior researchers:

if you’re not already doing so, sync all your data to a password-protected, secure cloud-hosted drive.

In fact, stop reading the rest of this thread and go do it now.

Set up syncing to back up all your data, seminars, manuscript drafts, grant proposals — literally everything. And set up that sync to occur automatically.

Make sure you choose a very secure service. Check with your institution, many provide access to a significant amount of space through common services to their affiliated people. Take advantage of that.

If not, it is worth paying for your own subscription.

Next, invest in a separate hard drive and create a SECOND offline copy of all your data and documents on that hard drive. Set a regular calendar reminder to plug that hard drive in and copy all your work, otherwise keep it in a secured place not plugged into a computer/internet.

Password protect that hard drive and/or store it in a safe (even locked) drawer. It serves as a back up of your back up.

Here’s why you should do this.

First of all, we are very reliant on our computers. If you’re like me, you also abuse your electronics. I’ve dropped laptops, spilled coffee on keyboards. Generally just run computers into the ground.

If you’re like me, you never want to be in a position where your computer going down means you lose your data. Ever.

Instead, you want to be in a position where your computer could break and that would be not good, but you don’t have to worry about losing access to your work.

Second, it is very useful to be able to access your documents from multiple devices. I now keep a digital lab notebook, and can check my notes or share protocols with colleagues from literally anywhere. I can refer to my data from any of my devices.

If I’m traveling to a conference, I still bring a USB copy of my presentation, but know that if all else fails, I can also access my slides from the cloud.

Last but not least, you need an offline hard drive version because ransomware attacks are real, and have been known to target academic labs. I’ve heard of two academic research groups who have fallen victim to these kinds of attacks. Your offline copy is protection against that.

PS - if you’re a grad student, ask if your PI will use lab funds to cover the cost of your backup systems. They should.

I have been through several close calls when it comes to losing all my data. It’s terrible. So please take the time now to figure out how to protect yourself.

Well, anyways, writing this thread was a good reminder to update my offline backup, so that’s happening now...