* Is your data backed up?
* Have you ever tested your backups?
* Are you prepared to change computers or get back up and running if your current computer is not available for any reason?
* Have you ever thought you could rely on someone else to move your data for you?

What do we recommend?

1.  MAKE AND RETAIN YOUR OWN BACKUPS.
2.  USE THE SOFTWARE VENDOR'S RECOMMENDED BACKUP PROCESS.
3.  USE A ROTATION OF BACKUPS.

The reasoning:

1.  Make and retain your own backups.
It makes no sense to rely on a third party to know what you need, where it is, and how to preserve it.  By having your own backups you make - AND TEST - you retain control.

2.  Use the software vendor's recommended backup process.
The software vendor certainly knows what data their software uses and where those files are.  The software vendor has a vested interest in making sure the data is not lost.  The software will have some sort of method to backup the data, likely via a built in process.  It is also likely the software vendor has instructions showing you how to test their backup.

3.  Use a rotation of backups, with copies in a separate location.
You may think you are covered with a single backup, but what if the single backup gets destroyed along with the computer in some sort of disaster?

How does this relate to Medlin Software?
Medlin Software has built in backup and restore functions.
Medlin Software offers detailed instructions showing a strongly suggested backup process (a rotation of several backups).
Medlin Software offers detailed instructions showing you how to test your Medlin Software backups.

http://medlinsoftware.com/help/payroll/backupdata.htm
http://medlinsoftware.com/help/payroll/restoredata.htm

If you use the built into Medlin Software backup function
We will try to help you if you need to restore your data.

Absolutely nothing is wrong with using an online backup service - we do.  The key is knowing what is being backed up online, and how to restore it.  What we do is use the online backup to make a backup of what we already backed up.  This means we make our own backup we control and test, and use the online service to have another copy of the backup we made.

---
The goal is to be able to quickly and easily get all your important information "up and running" on a new computer in less than a day, maybe even quicker.