| !-- google_ad_section_start --> | | | | have access to a simple word file - the whole unit |
| Data & Tape Storage & Disaster Recovery | | | | needs to keep running. A lot of electricity for disc, |
| - What you need to consider (SME organisations) | | | | whereas tape just sits on the shelf. |
| You may be in a situation where you know your | | | | Some experts will say tape is vulnerable to damage |
| data is not being backed up correctly - or at all. You | | | | and corruption. The solution is the make multiple tape |
| know it needs to be looked into.............but you just | | | | backups and then store in a cool, safe place. Tape |
| can't 'find the time' to speak to the other team | | | | actually can last years without damage. |
| members about it. | | | | Many companies offer off-site tape storage. This |
| Data is the second most irreplaceable and valuable | | | | allows you to store tapes in a library/cataloguing |
| asset after 'people'. In the event of a disaster, | | | | system that can be viewed online. They are kept in a |
| insurance money can only pay compensation and | | | | secure vault with idea climate conditions for tape |
| replace tangible assets; it cannot replace people or | | | | longevity. You are also able to instruct the storage |
| your unique data. | | | | company how often they visit your office to |
| So where do you start? Well every business has | | | | exchange your backup tapes on an agreed tape |
| their own requirements and generally will look to their | | | | rotation plan. |
| IT support company for advice on their specific | | | | You just have to know what data you need to store |
| needs. In my experience, IT companies (particularly | | | | for rapid access (Disc storage) or archive or not so |
| for SMEs) just rather organise blue cable, servers, | | | | urgent (Tape) and balance your expenditure and |
| peripheries and maintenance plans - than ensure a | | | | operating costs accordingly. Also remember to factor |
| decent Disaster Recover (DR) plan is in place. And if | | | | in the amount of data increase you are experiencing |
| they recommend a DR plan, it will be based on their | | | | in your organisation (thanks to emails and larger file |
| biases on the subject. | | | | sizes - there is at least a 50% increase in all extant |
| Here is what to consider and investigate when | | | | data per annum!!!) |
| developing a data backup plan. | | | | What about the Internet? |
| First - How much data are you generating each day? | | | | Yes some people have backup software that allows |
| That is how many Gigabytes? | | | | their data to be de-duplicated and compressed so as |
| Second. How many days/hours of data can you | | | | to fit in the available bandwidth. Some IT people |
| afford to lose? | | | | actually backup onto the available space in the their |
| Third. If there is a major systems failure - how much | | | | Website Database. Web hosters often offer a |
| downtime can you afford? | | | | certain amount of data to be stored in the back end |
| How much daily needs to be backed up daily? You | | | | of the web site itself - for a monthly fee. Just check |
| should only need to do an incremental backup of the | | | | to see the extra costs associated with data transfer. |
| NEW data for the day. | | | | Also in the event of a systems failure (where |
| When to do a FULL backup? ................ Usually weekly. | | | | communication lines can go down - thus internet and |
| Also you may require Archive backups...............often | | | | WAN) how are you going to retrieve the data? |
| monthly. | | | | IT people are also known for taking home older |
| Once you know the quantity of data to backup daily | | | | servers - placing them in their garage and backing up |
| & weekly, you can then decide on the method. | | | | data over the internet to their second hand PCs. Is |
| You need to consider how much data needs to be | | | | this a reliable solution considering sick days, holidays, |
| stored on Disc (eg NAS) for rapid access in case of a | | | | burglary and internet integrity? |
| systems failure; and how much data can be stored | | | | Some companies will host your data in a similar way |
| on Tape (LTO, DLT). Tape is cheaper to run but | | | | to Web hosters? Just ensure that they are in fact a |
| takes longer to backup and access. | | | | suitable option when you factor in costs, reliability, |
| The simplest method is to buy a Tape drive unit that | | | | bandwidth, data restoration time and DR. |
| can backup about 200 - 400 GB of data. The costs | | | | Other simple solutions |
| vary ($1000 - $2000) for the unit and the individual | | | | There is more software being developed that will |
| tapes cost about $50 - $60 each (you often need | | | | compress and simplify your data so that you are only |
| about 20 tapes). If your data is close to a Terabyte | | | | backing up a smaller parcel of data. |
| (TB), you are now looking into more money to set | | | | This is definitely worth investigating, however I would |
| up ($5000 - $10000). | | | | recommend that you start changing policy internally |
| On the other hand, you can store a lot of your daily | | | | with regard to backup solutions. Remember that a |
| data on Disc Storage (NAS etc..) however the | | | | large source of your problem is that company |
| hardware can be very expensive to purchase and | | | | employees often make several copies of the one file, |
| very expensive to operate. You need to keep the | | | | do not delete there 'Sent files' and do not archive or |
| units running constantly - even if you just want to | | | | manage their emails. |