| "Over time, 100% of computers fail 100% of the | | | | make time to do so, let alone test your backups |
| time." | | | | regularly to ensure that your information is |
| Picture the following scene: | | | | recoverable. |
| It's Friday at 3:30pm, and you're just about to shut | | | | You currently store your backup in your desk or |
| down your office for a much needed weekend | | | | beside your computer, which incidentally has been |
| retreat at your family's cottage. | | | | making a strange whirring noise if you listen closely. |
| You're already running behind schedule to pick up the | | | | What to do if this is you: the remedy |
| kids-it was a busy week after all-and you'd really like | | | | Repeat after me: "Computer backup is critical to the |
| to get a jump on the afternoon traffic. | | | | survival of my business." |
| As you're quickly gathering your things together and | | | | That's right! According to the U.S. National Archive |
| heading for the door, you catch a glimpse of your | | | | and Records Administration in Washington, 93% of |
| "sleeping" computer out of the corner of your eye. | | | | small businesses that suffer a computer crash and |
| The question flashes through your mind: When was | | | | lose access to their digital information for 10 days or |
| the last time I backed up my computer? | | | | more, go under within one year. |
| And how do you feel? Are you confident (or perhaps | | | | Also, one of Canada's national newspapers, the Globe |
| even nonchalant) about the safety of your digital | | | | and Mail, printed in May 2007 that 70% of small |
| records? Or do you acknowledge the intense tug of | | | | businesses that experience major data loss close |
| war being waged between your diligent, rational, | | | | their doors within the year. |
| backup-friendly self and the playful, reckless part of | | | | So whether it's 70% or 93%, those bankruptcy |
| you that just wants to break free for the weekend? | | | | rates are too high to ignore, agreed? |
| Besides, you say to yourself, what are the chances | | | | Go back and apply the remedy for Mild DDD, and |
| my computer will crash over the weekend? | | | | repeat the above quote twice daily for 21 days. |
| And so you quickly leave, lock the door behind you | | | | Also, find a local IT Service company that offers |
| and happily rush off for another glorious weekend. | | | | monthly maintenance contracts to service and clean |
| You believe, like so many others, that your computer | | | | your computer on a regular basis. |
| will soldier on; will be there for you through thick and | | | | Severe Digital Delusion Disorder Risk |
| thin; will never, ever give up. Yes, you're aware of | | | | In too many cases, entrepreneurs just like you don't |
| the possibility of a crash, and even considered the | | | | realize how much their businesses rely upon the digital |
| possibility of a theft or fire, but you just don't believe | | | | information stored on their computers, and they |
| it could happen to you. | | | | falsely imagine that their businesses could easily |
| You're suffering from a common entrepreneurial | | | | survive for more than 10 days without that |
| syndrome that I like to call "Digital Delusion Disorder". | | | | information. |
| All of us computer users suffer some measure of | | | | In truth, you really have not considered how much |
| DDD, but what's important is the extent to which this | | | | your digital information-like your contact databases, |
| delusion is putting your business and your livelihood at | | | | marketing templates, accounting files and so on- |
| risk. | | | | contributes to your income generation, nor do you |
| Mild Digital Delusion Disorder Risk | | | | believe that inhibited access to this information would |
| You understand the true value of your digital | | | | derail the day to day activities of your business. |
| information and devote the time and energy to | | | | But, in truth, you use your computer every day for a |
| manually backup your computers to a tape-drive, | | | | wide variety of tasks and as your primary method of |
| external hard-drive, memory stick, or CDs and DVDs | | | | document storage. You take your computer for |
| on a regular basis. You also make a habit of testing | | | | granted, and have only a vague idea of what |
| the recovery of files from your backups. | | | | information is actually being housed on your machines. |
| You rely heavily on your computers to operate and | | | | Accordingly, you back up your computer rarely-if |
| organize your business, and you're conscious of the | | | | ever-and continue to run and grow your business |
| fact that a computer is merely a machine with | | | | without any concept of a recovery plan should the |
| moving parts that can break down at any time. | | | | inevitable crash occur. |
| You perform your computer backup at least once a | | | | What to do if this is you: the remedy |
| week, and store your backup disks offsite, but you | | | | Ask yourself one question: If you could not access |
| still worry that your unencrypted backup tapes are | | | | any of the files or records stored on your computer, |
| vulnerable, and that your backup really should be | | | | how much time and money would it take for you to |
| completed every day. | | | | rebuild your business to its current level of success? |
| What to do if this is you: the remedy | | | | Really think about this! |
| Train at least two other reliable people to perform | | | | Make an itemized inventory of the digital records |
| your computer backup, and increase your backup | | | | stored on your computer, and estimate the amount |
| schedule to a daily routine. You may want to hand | | | | of time and money that it cost you to acquire that |
| this task over to a trustworthy employee, but be | | | | information in the first place. Also, estimate how |
| sure to train a second person as well, who can | | | | much income you would lose over the next year if |
| perform the backup if the first employee is home | | | | you did not have access to that information. |
| sick or away on vacation. | | | | It really adds up, doesn't it? I bet you're well into the |
| You should also consider looking into a computer | | | | tens of thousands-if not hundreds of thousands-of |
| backup service that will automatically encrypt your | | | | dollars, and many years of hard work. |
| backups. Simply search "automatic encryption backup" | | | | Now consider that you can automatically backup your |
| and the name of your city, province or state to find | | | | computer every day using a reputable online |
| these services on the Internet. | | | | computer backup and recovery service for a tiny |
| Storing your backups offsite is certainly the right | | | | fraction of that cost. Simply search "online computer |
| idea, but do NOT entrust this duty to another | | | | backup" and the name of your city, province or state |
| individual. Remember, your backups contain your | | | | to find these services on the Internet, and be sure |
| business' most valuable and sensitive information, and | | | | to ask other business owners what computer backup |
| only you should have access to it! | | | | solution works best for them. |
| Moderate Digital Delusion Disorder Risk: | | | | Remember my opening quote: 100% of computers |
| Your business is growing quickly, and you are | | | | fail 100% of the time. Don't let Digital Delusion |
| implementing procedures and systems to help you | | | | Disorder become a real risk to the survival of your |
| organize, automate, and execute your business. | | | | business. Act today to protect your digital |
| Computer backup is a necessary evil that you do | | | | information, and SAVE your business! |
| when you think about it, but you find it difficult to | | | | |