| When comparing different types of data storage | | | | failure every 1,000,000 or a failure every 600,000 is |
| devices, you'll certainly read and hear about all of the | | | | still a failure. The logical approach is to ensure that |
| great things that each product has to offer. But | | | | there is system in place to catch and repair failures. |
| what about the downside to each type of media | | | | It's more important to inquire about a specific |
| storage? Optical drives, tape media, and disk storage, | | | | product's failure backup strategy than make a |
| all have their own set of pros and cons that you'll | | | | decision based on failure rate alone. |
| need to evaluate before making a decision about | | | | #3: Length of Time to Restore Data: |
| which type data backup strategy to implement. | | | | When data is lost, recovering systems and data to |
| #1 Lifespan of the Data: | | | | their pre-disaster state doesn't just happen instantly. |
| In most sales copy, you'll read about how much | | | | Optical drives, tape media, and disk storage each |
| storage space a particular type of media offers, but | | | | require different processes and require different |
| rarely will you read about how long that data will last. | | | | lengths of time to recover data. It's essential to |
| Most people just assume that once stored, their data | | | | calculate the cost of downtime for your business. |
| will be safe forever. The data stored on optical | | | | How much money will you lose for each hour you're |
| drives, tape media, and disk storage each has a shelf | | | | your systems are down? How much downtime can |
| life depending on the media type, the brand of | | | | you afford? |
| storage device, and how it's cared for. | | | | You won't want to choose your data storage device |
| Optical disks: Between x and x years | | | | on this factor alone, but it should be a big part of |
| Tape media: Between x and x years | | | | your consideration. While disk storage can have |
| Disk storage: Between x and x years | | | | everything back up and running fairly quickly, it can't |
| Just because one type of media has a shorter | | | | store nearly as much data as tape media. You may |
| lifespan than another doesn't mean you shouldn't | | | | need to combine multiple types of data storage |
| choose it. It is, however, critical to know the life | | | | devices for different types of data. |
| expectancy so that you can implement a foolproof | | | | It's important to seek out an unbiased opinion on |
| process for recopying the data at regular intervals. | | | | these issues when choosing your data storage |
| It's more important to choose a data storage type | | | | solution. When you begin doing your own research on |
| that fits with your business processes than the one | | | | any one of these subjects, you'll find that each of |
| that will last the longest. | | | | these issues tends to spark heated debates among |
| #2 Potential for Data Failure: | | | | proponents in different industries. Not surprisingly, the |
| The whole point of backing up data is to have it | | | | data figures vary widely depending on who publishes |
| available should the unthinkable occur. But what if it's | | | | them. |
| not there when you need it? Optical drives, tape | | | | In order to obtain the most objective information |
| media, and disk storage all have their own acceptable | | | | about the right type of data storage solution for |
| and expected rates of failure. According to some | | | | your particular business, a value added reseller is a |
| statistics, disk storage has an approximate Mean | | | | smart option. These are educated resellers that offer |
| Time Before Failure (MTBF) rating of 600,000 to | | | | a wide variety of media types and brands along with |
| 1,000,000 hours while tape media has a MTBF of | | | | free one on one consultation. This way, you'll not only |
| about 400,000 to 500,000 hour. | | | | get a logical, unbiased consultation, but a data backup |
| Again, just because one type of data storage has a | | | | strategy that is completely customized for your |
| greater rate of failure than another doesn't mean it's | | | | business. |
| not the right option for your business. After all, a | | | | |