diff --git a/customize.sh b/customize.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d16656b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/customize.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+#######
+### Copy customization files to their proper locations after backing up
+### original files
+#######
+
+### Verify this script is running as root, otherwise exit with notification
+if [ $(id -u) -ne 0 ]; then
+echo -e "\n\e[1;31mThis script MUST be run as ROOT. Exiting\e[0m"
+exit 1
+fi
+
+### Let user know what's happening
+echo -e "\nThis script will copy TEMPLATE files to various locations in order \
+    to customize your system.  Backups will be created in-place with the \
+    extension '.original'"
+echo -e "\n\e[0;33mPlease note: It's still up to you to customize the template \
+    files with settings appropriate to your environment!"
+echo -e"\n\e[0;36mDetails about template files are in the readme.md files \
+    within each directory in this archive.\e[0m\n"
+
+### Copy files to proper locations
+
+## Copy root's .bashrc
+echo -e "\ncopying .bashrc to /root..."
+# backup
+cp -f /root/.bashrc /root/.bashrc.original
+# copy new
+cp -f root/.bashrc /root/.bashrc
+echo "...done"
+
+## Copy profile template files and skel files
+echo -e "\ncopying default bash profile files..."
+# backup
+cp -f /etc/profile /etc/profile.original
+cp -f /etc/bash.bashrc /etc/bash.bashrc.original
+cp -f /etc/skel/.bashrc /etc/skel/.bashrc.original
+# copy new
+cp -f etc/profile /etc/profile
+cp -f etc/bash.bashrc /etc/bash.bashrc
+cp -f etc/skel/.bashrc /etc/skel/.bashrc
+echo "...done"
+
+## copy nano settings
+echo -e "\ncopying nano default settings..."
+# backup
+cp -f /etc/nanorc /etc/nanorc.original
+# copy new
+cp -f etc/nanorc /etc/nanorc
+echo "...done"
+
+## copy timesync
+echo -e "\ncopying timesync configuration..."
+# backup
+cp -f /etc/systemd/timesyncd.conf /etc/systemd/timesyncd.conf.original
+# copy new
+cp -f etc/systemd/timesyncd.conf /etc/systemd/timesyncd.conf
+echo "...done"
+
+## copy sshd configuration
+echo -e "\ncopying sshd configuration..."
+# backup
+cp -f /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config.original
+# copy new
+cp -f etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config
+echo "...done"
+
+### Exit gracefully
+echo -e "\n\e[0;32mAll done!\n"
+
+exit 0