| Most business owners are aware that it is critical to | | | | professional help to assist you. But it is something |
| keep a backup of their data. But how often should | | | | which should be done annually. More then 85% of all |
| you backup and what type of technology should you | | | | businesses do not test their backup solutions. I have |
| use? As we are in the information age, it is really not | | | | even worked with some Fortune 500 enterprises |
| that hard to find a solution for a problem, but the big | | | | which have never tested there $30.000.00 backup |
| question remains. Is it really was the right solution? | | | | solution. |
| Often this is not determined until a critical point arises | | | | The three common types of backup solutions are: |
| and your solution fails. The same concept is true for | | | | tape backup, disk backup, and internet backup. All |
| your backup solution. The question of which solution | | | | three types of solutions should be tested. It is hard |
| is the right solution is a difficult one. It depends on | | | | to generalize what the best backup solution is, |
| your nature of business, your environment, your | | | | because it really depends on your type of business |
| budget and of course on the amount of data which | | | | and size. Therefore, I will just mention the benefits |
| needs to be backed up. I have seen it plenty of | | | | and drawbacks of the three backup types, leaving it |
| times. Businesses don't have any backups and their | | | | open for you to decide which solution is right for you. |
| computer or server crashes and they lose all their | | | | Tape backup is the historic and solid veteran. If you |
| data. However, some businesses understand the | | | | don't need to utilize a lot of backup capacity the tape |
| importance of a backup system and therefore have | | | | solution is inexpensive and reliable. If you are running |
| one in place. Although, there is a difference between | | | | a large organization and have lots of data, then the |
| having a backup solution and having a fully functioning | | | | tape solution is not as inexpensive anymore, but still |
| backup solution. | | | | reliable. Tapes are rugged and solid backup mediums. |
| I have witness the comfort of a company with a | | | | The main drawback of tape backup systems is that |
| backup solution after a systems crash or hard drive | | | | restoring is often a lot slower then it's competitive |
| failure. In those cases, someone has setup a backup | | | | disk backup solution. |
| solution a few years ago and left it at that. I have | | | | The disk backup solution is the quickest backup and |
| witness backup solutions where the power has been | | | | recovery solution. This solution is mainly for small |
| disconnected from the backup device for more than | | | | companies where all company data can be stored on |
| half a year. I have seen businesses run their backups | | | | a single large disk drive. The drawback for disk |
| every day, but storing the wrong data. I have seen | | | | backup solutions are that the hard drives are very |
| corrupted backup data and firms which have | | | | sensitive too changes in temperature, and stock. If |
| outgrown the maximum capacity of their backup | | | | you would drop the hard drive that holds your |
| medium over a year ago, thus only backing up 60% | | | | backup, it would be damaged. The internet backup |
| of their data. What I am trying to say is that | | | | solution is the youngest of the backup systems. This |
| problems can occur with backup solutions and they | | | | solution can be applied for any type and size of |
| can be very costly. They can cost you years of | | | | business and can be cost effective. The drawback is |
| work and sometimes they can even cost you your | | | | that you can only backup and restore your data |
| business. Although, the one time setup of automated | | | | when you have a solid internet connection. I would |
| backups that run forever solutions work great in | | | | recommend talking to an experienced IT Consultant |
| theory, the reality is that backup solutions need | | | | about your backup solution, needs, and test |
| constant monitoring and should be tested on | | | | procedures. I hope this white paper has helped some |
| occasion. Yes, it really is that important! | | | | of you to better understand the different backup |
| Testing your backup solution can be very time | | | | solutions and the necessity in monitoring and testing |
| consuming, and I would recommend seeking | | | | your backup solution. |