Backing up data held on portable computing devices is a means to protect against loss. (See also Day to Day Use of Laptop / Portable Computers).

• Data held on a laptop computer may be lost, due to an internal (system) failure; such data may be of significant value - especially to the individual concerned.

• All computer systems and their associated data files must have agreed backup and restore procedures for the data files. This includes portable computers.
• Where possible use inbuilt features of the system such as the Microsoft Windows® 'Briefcase' or 'Make Available Offline' to allow data files to be modified and updated (synchronised) automatically when re-connected to the corporate network.
• The user of the portable computer must be personally responsible for backing up stored data and synchronising them with the central system.