Abstract: In a method for automatically creating backup copies and for remote archiving of files from at least one electronic data processing equipment, files are compressed in a device separated from the data processing equipment, in particular in a supplementary data processing device, their contents and, where appropriate, their names are encrypted, and then are transferred via a network to a remote archive in a controlled fashion. The supplementary data processing device includes a file repository (10), an interface for a data connection between the data processing equipment (6) and the supplementary data processing device (1), a means for providing server services in order to allow the data processing equipment (6) a write/read access to the file repository (10), a data compression means (12), a data encryption means (13) and a data transmission means (14), wherein the device (1) is mounted in a closable case separate from the data processing equipment (6).