| iv> | | | | Make sure the system you use is encrypted to at |
| | | | least 448 bit and password protected. That way |
| It's one thing to loose data and money because of | | | | total privacy gives peace of mind. |
| hackers and thieves of various kinds; it's a different | | | | 5. Is the data compressed? |
| thing again when it's because you didn't back up your | | | | If you have a lot of data to back up you'll want to |
| data properly or not at all. Value you data! Whether | | | | reduce the storage requirement and cost by having it |
| it's that critical business document, your thesis, your | | | | compressed first. Don't underestimate how much you |
| website or your home accounts and precious photo's. | | | | business or study material will grow! |
| Data can be lost through power surges, computer | | | | 6. Is the system informative? |
| crashes, fires and theft to name a few. You wouldn't | | | | Don't put your self in the position of "hoping it |
| leave your home unlocked and the doors wide open | | | | worked". Get some form of feedback that assures |
| without any occupants, so be sure to close the door | | | | you it has. |
| to possible losses and theft of data. | | | | 7. Is the system flexible? |
| The most important aspect of this issue, is to | | | | Make sure that the system is capable of backing up |
| properly back up. So here are a few things to look | | | | any file size or type. Don't get caught out by thinking |
| for when considering a data back up solution. | | | | you don't need much storage or the ability to save |
| 1. Is it automatic? | | | | certain types of files. |
| You don't want to be using a system that is | | | | 8. Is it versatile? |
| dependent on human action and consequently | | | | Make sure the system has the versatility to deal with |
| vulnerable to being forgotten or misused. | | | | pda's and mobile phones. Also make sure that it has |
| 2. Is it simple to use? | | | | both automatic and manual back facility. You want |
| You don't want something that's complicated and | | | | the automatic feature for the benefit of set and |
| time consuming to understand. You need a set and | | | | forget, but you also want the, "back up my data |
| forget system; at least until it's needed! | | | | now" feature so that you have the benefit of not |
| 3. Is it secure? | | | | having to worry through the time between finishing |
| Your data must be off-site. It is no good having a | | | | your thesis or proposal and knowing it is really secure. |
| back up file on your PC. It must be remotely stored | | | | 9. Is it backed up more than once? |
| on at least one other PC. If your PC has a major fire | | | | Don't rely on a system that only has one copy. Make |
| etc the hardware maybe lost but the data and profit | | | | sure that it has several copies stored on at least 2, |
| is safe. | | | | preferably 3, off-site computers. Think virus! If your |
| 4. Is it confidential? | | | | system is hit with a virus you can then go back to a |
| A sad fact of life is that there are those around that | | | | file before the virus took a hold. |
| get their kicks from destroying or stealing your data. | | | | |