Data Backup, Recovery & Disaster Prevention

Whether you're a home user or business user on a multi-server network, the most valuable and critical asset is the data on that system. All too frequently, that data is not adequately protected by a robust backup system.

Data loss can be catastrophic. The National Archives & Records Administration in Washington, DC reports that 93% of companies that lose their data center for 10 days or more due to disaster, filed for bankruptcy within one year. 30% of all businesses that have a major fire go out of business within a year, 70% fail within five years.

It is VITAL to protect your valuable data with a reliable back up system. And it MUST be fast, easy & automated, eliminating as much human effort as possible (humans grow lazy and are inconsistent - - with devastating results.

Solutions:

There are many ways to effectively backup your data. Depending upon with whom you're talking, you'll get all manner of vehement responses about the "best way to do it".     In our opinion, one solution that seems ideal for one client may be totally inappropriate for another; there are a lot of factors to consider. Some of these include:

• Data only or full system imaging? (an entire subject of its own; see more info below)
• How much data you have
• Cost considerations - both intial purchase & on-going media/equipment replacement
• Location (susceptability to flood, theft, vandalism)
• Trust factor - do you feel "safe" with your data on some remote organization's server?
• How quickly / how much your data changes
• Estimated cost for down time if recovery is needed
• Personal / staff involvement/discipline: changing media, taking off site, etc.
• Ease of use
• Reliability of hardware & media being used; suitability to client "style"
• Time required to perform backups in conjunction with other automated functions

More Info:

Click on the links below for more details on specific back up topics :

Data only vs. full system imaging - what's it worth to get the whole system, not just the data?
Back up problems - be aware of what they are, how to avoid them
Pro's & Con's of different backup methods
Personal involvement - it needs to be someone's job to properly understand / manage backups
Primary backup systems & backup backup systems - a second method &/or archiving of older data
Backup to remote servers - e.g. Internet-based backup services etc