Student Backup Policy
The purpose of a backup is to provide a means to restore critical files in the event of data loss due to hardware/software failure, physical disaster, or human error. 

Backup Options
Due to the increased size of student hard drive, the Tech Zone can only backup your academic files.  If you have music, videos, photos or other personal media related files, we highly recommend backing up your valuable files. Here are a few backup options:

• N drive: Each student is issued their own network storage drive (aka “N Drive”) which can be used to backup up to 640MB of personal files.  This drive is automatically mapped when logged into the VUAD network.  Alternatively, you may access the drive through gateway.villanova.edu.

• External Drive: If you have music, videos, photos or other personal media related files which exceed your N drive space, we recommend purchasing a portable hard drive to backup all your valuable files.
• Media Storage: Media storage such as CD’s or DVD’s is a fast, inexpensive and easy way to backup your files. CD’s hold about 700MB of data and DVD’s will hold about 4.7GB.

• Online Storage: Online Storage enables you to safely backup data in a remote location and have access to everything from any internet connected device. While Villanova is not affiliated with any of these third party offers, we’d have provided a few recommendations. (Some examples may be reviewed here.) Others recommended:

• SkyDrive:  25 GB of free storage on Windows Live. With SkyDrive, it's easy to store and share your files and photos with almost anyone. www.skydrive.live.com
• Idrive:  Provides 2 GB free online storage space and offers automatic backup through an easy to use application, as well as web-based backup management.  www.idrive.com

• Memory Stick: A removable flash memory card used as storage media for a portable device. Everyone was given a 4GB memory stick when they were issued their laptop.
• U-Vault: U-Vault is an off site data protection solution. Read more here.