| tart --> | | | | be a drain on resource, for example someone will |
| Before we investigate which data backup method is | | | | need to ensure a tape is fitted into the backup |
| a best fit for your business, we need to evaluate | | | | device and removed offsite after the backup has |
| why and what you expect from your backup | | | | taken place. Usually most company's leave the tape |
| solution. | | | | inside the server overnight, leaving your backup |
| Obviously, we backup our data so we can continue | | | | exposed to the same threats as your server. |
| trading after a disaster, but what type of disaster | | | | Disk to Disk Transfer - |
| are you protecting yourself from and how quickly | | | | Easily the fastest way to backup and restore and is |
| does your system need to be back online? Please | | | | suitable for high quantities of data which can be |
| think about this before you think of the usual stock | | | | transferred between two servers at up to 320MB |
| answer, "I am protecting myself from all disasters | | | | per second. The speed of this form of backup is |
| and I want to be back online as soon as possible" | | | | usually only slowed down by the network connecting |
| easy to do if you have £500,000 budget and | | | | them together. There are two downsides behind this |
| many man hours to devote to the task of backup. | | | | solution, firstly the cost; you will need a second |
| You need to be realistic about your backup and | | | | server and this server will need to grow at the same |
| restore plan. Are you planning to recover from a | | | | time as your live server. Secondly it is impossible to |
| hardware failure, total server failure, fire flood or any | | | | remove the server to a secure remote or offsite |
| malicious event? Remember, the rule, the bigger the | | | | location, again leaving your backup exposed to the |
| disaster you plan for, the bigger budget you will need. | | | | same threat as your live server. |
| Let's look at the business backup options; | | | | Offsite or Online Backup - |
| Tape Backup - | | | | By far the cheapest method of backup, however |
| Is a solution which has been around for many years, | | | | until recently your backup and restore process can |
| recent technology means backup and restore is | | | | usually operate only as fast as your internet |
| becoming faster and faster. The main benefit of tape | | | | connection, usually 2MB per second. This form of |
| based backup is the speed in which you can restore, | | | | backup has usually only been suitable for smaller |
| tape solutions are now capable of moving data at | | | | companies with smaller quantities of data. Times have |
| rates of up to 80MB per second. The down side is | | | | changed, some offsite backup solutions now offer |
| the initial cost, a high end tape backup device will | | | | high performance disk to disk backup functionality |
| cost from £4,000 and can work their way up | | | | whilst still securely backing up your data to an offsite |
| to hundreds of thousands. The software to control | | | | location, you might say this offers the best of both |
| the backup starts at around £500 per device | | | | worlds, very fast restore using disk to disk |
| to be backed up and can escalate to £3000 | | | | functionality but still copying your data offsite |
| per device. Cost of media, £30 per tape and | | | | ensuring you will always be able to restore regardless |
| usually you willneed a minimum of 10 tapes. | | | | of disaster. |
| Cost aside, the human intervention requirement can | | | | |