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The 3-2-1 Rule of backing up data refers to having three copies of your data:
Many computers and mobile devices today have automatic cloud backups enabled, e.g. iCloud, Microsoft Onedrive, or Google Drive. However, data loss can still occur if your only copy is overwritten, accidentally deleted, you lose your login or two-factor authentication method, or a virus corrupts your system. Cloud storage providers can also have outages (temporary or extended), and in rare cases, loss of data. Even if you use a cloud storage provider, it's a good idea to have additional backups just in case to avoid a lot of headache and hassle.
When deciding where and how to back up your research, sources, and data collections, it's important to take into consideration any attributes about your data that may restrict where, for how long, and in which format you may be able to store it.
If you're working on a simple research paper and your only sources are journal articles downloaded from library databases, this is pretty straightforward as they can be easily replaced (assuming you have the citation) and don't contain any confidential information that needs to be kept secret.
However, if you're conducting original research and collecting your own data, you may have to take additional considerations about how that data is handled. This may include (but is not limited to):
If you are conducting original research and collecting research data, you should consult your professor or faculty advisor on the best methods to store, secure, and preserve your data. If your research project includes human participants and is subject to IRB approval, you will need to follow the guidelines set out in your documentation.