Backing up data is always a good idea, but it must be done properly.
If you backup your encrypted laptop to a network server, the backup does not need to be encrypted. Backups created from an encrypted laptop are decrypted when written to the backup server and re-encrypted when restored back to the encrypted laptop.
If the data on the encrypted laptop is synchronized to a network server, the server does not need to be encrypted. Similar to backing up to a network server, the backups are decrypted to the server when synchronized, but the data remains encrypted on the laptop.
If the backup is to any device other than a network server, for instance, a portable or removable drive, the data must be encrypted on the portable/removable device. The entire portable/removable device should be encrypted, as this prevents accidentally writing the data to the external device in an unprotected format.
For more information on encryption or to request an exception, email Information Security at infosec@uthscsa.edu.