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A friend of mine once said, "There are only
two kinds of computer users in the world: those who need their
backup and those who will!" Business professionals should
take this message to heart, particularly as it applies to
the data backup of their company's information system. Let's
face it, a hard disk crash may be inevitable but the total
loss of data doesn't have to be. A strict rule to follow is
that any time you write, edit or create something new, you
should back it up.
Why backup? Because with e-mail, order entry,
billing, inventory and even human resource functions all handled
electronically, electronic data has become the cornerstone
of modern business. Human error and mechanical failure are
the number one reasons for data losses, but software problems,
natural disasters and viruses are also big contributors to
file corruption and data destruction. Business owners in southwest
Florida should especially appreciate the power surges that
wreak havoc on most systems.
Typically, operating system information is static and does not need to be backed up as frequently as accounts payable and accounts receivable, client bases and e-mail files. There are many types of backup routines, but the most common is the one-tape-per-day ritual. Full backups are performed every night. This way, only one day's worth of data is at risk, and restores of information can usually be done within a couple of minutes.
“Human error and mechanical
failure are the number one reasons for data losses”
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Most people recycle ten days worth of
tapes, but this can be a big mistake. A fire, theft or malicious
departing employee can cause big trouble, so having two copies
of the backup is advisable, with one stored at an off-site
location. This is why we offer an Online Backup Service to give you added protection against possible data loss.
If you have a small business, you may want to consider a LTO-2L backup system with
Veritas Backup Exec software. The drives and media are inexpensive
(drives run approximately $1300-$1500 and tapes $30-$40 each and hold approx. 200/400 GB of data) and
are fairly quick. these tape drives have much higher throughput speeds than tape backups from the past.
“Once you have selected your
backup system, have a plan in place to test your process
and the integrity of the data on your backup.”
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Mid-size networks that require greater speed
and capacity should consider LTO-3 backup solution that offer twice the
capacity of the LTO-2L and has higher throughput speeds. The LTO-3 with
400/800 GB of storage costs approximately $2800 - $3000.
For large Businesses the same two backup technologies are used with the addition of an auto loader which can hold four or more tapes.
Once you have selected your backup system, have
a plan in place to test your process and the integrity of
the data on your backup. It is important to rotate the media
and store a copy off-site. It is also a good idea to train
several people in your office on the process. A data crash
may be inevitable, but with proper planning, the road to recovery
can be safe and smooth. And you can't put a price on peace
of mind.
Carol Conway is the President of CRS Technology. She may be contacted
at Carol@crsonline.net.
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