When properly set up, Ear Works creates automatically backup files on 

your server, but it's always a good idea to put these files on an 

offsite location, just in case. For example if the server is stolen or 

completely destroyed in a fire, there's no way you can get back that 

info. 

There are a few ways of moving a backup file off-site: 

1. save to FTP: if you have an FTP server then you can use an 

automatic FTP uploader that can upload the backup created 

automatically by the Ear Works Server. There are a few free ones 

available and also some paid ones. You can also do this upload 

manually each day, as part of your office closing or opening routine 

2. USB stick: you copy the backup file on a usb stick as part of your 

office closing or opening routine. This can be the task of one of your 

employees or your office manager. 

3. regular back-up on an external drive. It's always a good idea to 

back up your server regularly, and you can include the Ear Works 

backup files on it. Use an external hard drive to do that and do it 

let's say every week, then take the hard-drive home with you. This 

way, in case the disaster strikes, you won't loose so much info, 

depending how often you back up. There are backup managers available 

that can simplify this task a lot. 

Quick suggestion here: use a 2.5 inch drive instead of a 3.5, they are 

up to 10 times lighter... 

FYI, we're planning to release in a few months a service that will 

create and upload your Ear Works backups to a secure ftp location. All 

you need to do then is install a tiny software.

This article was published in the Canadian Hearing Report, the official journal of the Canadian Academy of Audiology in 2006. Markus wrote this article on customer service in dispensing practices.