The PS3 gives you several options for data backups.
Losing all your progress in a game after pouring hours into a character or online profile is a major setback, and if you never backed up your game saves, you may be left with no choice but to start completely over. The PlayStation 3 allows you to back up each of your files if you want, and since it doesn't take too long, it's insurance against the possibility of losing your data sometime later on.
Save Game Backups
All of your save game data for PS3 games is in the Games portion of the XMB menu under Saved Data Utility (PS3). You can view and delete individual save games here, and you can copy the data to another user account on the PS3, onto an external storage device or even online if you're a PlayStation Plus member. To back up a save game on a USB storage device, first connect the device; if you choose to back up your data online, you just need an active Internet connection. Locate and select the game folder first, and then highlight the save game file and press the green triangle button; then select "Copy" to view the destination options. Select either the USB storage device or "Online" as the destination, and the copy will begin. If you need to copy the backup onto your PS3 later on, go to the Saved Data Utility (PS3)" and select the location you saved it to, either the USB device or "Online," and copy the save game onto your PS3 from there.
Other File Backups
You can use the exact same backup method for the other files on your PS3, like photos, movies and music. Just locate the file or files you want to back up and press the green triangle button to view your options. While you can copy only a single save game at a time, you can actually copy as many files from within each of the the music, videos or photos sections as you want. Just select "Copy Multiple" to check several files and then back them all up at once.
Backup Utility
Sony provides a built-in backup option called the "Backup Utility," which automatically saves nearly all of your data, including many system settings, your save games, music, movies and photos, onto a connected USB device. This allows you to easily restore your system completely later on if necessary, since you can connect that device and allow the PS3 to automatically retrieve all the data. To use the utility, connect a USB storage device and select "System Settings" in the XMB menu's Settings" section; then select "Backup Utility."
Backup Considerations
If you choose to save a backup onto a USB storage device, you can still use that device for other purposes with a computer. The folder hierarchy on the device is very important; the PS3 will create folders on the device where it stores the save game data, and if you alter those folders in any way, the PS3 won't recognize the data later and you won't be able to restore your saved games. Also, certain files are impossible to back up, such as DRM-protected music. Most files, particularly game saves, have no such restrictions and are easy to back up. If you use the Backup Utility, you won't have any customization options, so the utility will attempt to back up everything on the hard drive, which may be a very significant amount of data.
Tags: storage device, Backup Utility, save game, save game, your data, backup onto