| You know you need some form of data migration | | | | deciding to store every bit of data this way. |
| and backup plan, but which type is right for your | | | | Recovering data from disk storage |
| business? The best way to answer this question is to | | | | With disk storage, the data on the working hard disk |
| look at the way in which data is recovered from | | | | is mirrored onto the secondary disk storage. This |
| different types of storage media. After all, recovering | | | | means that if the primary disk is destroyed, you can |
| data after a disaster is the reason for implementing a | | | | essentially tap into the information on the secondary |
| data migration plan in the first place. The last thing | | | | disk storage and pick right up where you left off. |
| you want in the event of a catastrophe is not to | | | | Disk storage is especially simple when it comes to |
| have the resources or the time to restore the data | | | | restoring system files. |
| saved in your storage devices. | | | | The problem with storing everything on disk storage |
| Before looking into the different types of storage | | | | is the limited space. While the storage space of disk |
| media, it's important to point out the different types | | | | storage devices has grown tremendously while prices |
| of data that a company may need to store. First, a | | | | for storage have come down, some companies still |
| company has archived data that it may not access | | | | need a lot more space than disk storage can provide |
| on a daily basis such as patient records or documents | | | | for their archived data. |
| needed to comply with the Sarbanes Oxley act. | | | | Recovering data from optical disks |
| Second are working files, these are critical files that | | | | Somewhere in between tape media and disk storage |
| are accessed on a regular basis such as email, data | | | | in terms of ease of recovery are optical disks. |
| grids, real-time inventory information, etc. The third | | | | Assuming your optical disks are well organized, you |
| type of data is system files. This includes all of the | | | | can essentially spend a day migrating data from |
| programs and software currently installed on your | | | | optical disks back onto the systems. |
| computer, settings, etc. Each of these different | | | | If you're thinking of choosing optical disk storage, |
| types of data may be suited for different types of | | | | make sure to have either an automated backup |
| data storage devices depending on your business | | | | system in place like an optical jukebox, or a very |
| data structure. Your ideal data storage solution may | | | | solid plan for backing up data at regular intervals. The |
| be a combination of different types of storage | | | | potential danger with optical storage is intending to |
| devices for different types of data. | | | | back up data manually, but then not doing it for one |
| Recovering data from tape media | | | | reason or another, no matter how well meaning your |
| The wonderful thing about tape media is its ability to | | | | intentions. |
| store so much information in such a compact amount | | | | Before choosing a type of data storage device, ask |
| of space. Tape media is ideal for archived information | | | | yourself how long different parts of your organization |
| such as customer records and case files that don't | | | | can be without certain types of data before critically |
| necessarily need to be migrated back to the system | | | | impacting the business. Of course the ideal option is |
| in the case of a crash. | | | | to have no downtime whatsoever, but there may be |
| Recovering entire systems from tape media can take | | | | certain types of data such as archived data that you |
| longer than with other types of data storage devices. | | | | can afford to be without for more than a few hours. |
| Restoring data from tape media isn't necessarily as | | | | Data storage vendors that offer consulting services |
| simple or intuitive as restoring data from a hard disk. | | | | and sell a wide variety of product types and brands |
| Owners of small businesses with no IT department | | | | can be an incredibly valuable resource in helping you |
| will want to make sure they understand how to | | | | find the data storage solution that is optimal for your |
| restore all of the critical files from tape media before | | | | business. |