| The moment it happens, the primary concern for the | | | | is taken, the client software remains idle till the next |
| user is to get the data back so that the work | | | | appointed backup time. |
| continues uninterrupted. Sensing this need, a | | | | The client software is totally automatic. It works |
| multi-million-dollar data-recovery industry has cropped | | | | without needing any directions from you, though you |
| up that specialises in recovering lost data from a | | | | can, if you wish, order it to take a backup anytime. |
| damaged storage device. All this can be avoided by a | | | | The remote-backup service provider usually bills its |
| simple solution - take regular backups of data that | | | | customers by the size of the data that has been |
| can restore your files immediately. | | | | backed up and the total time it kept the server |
| Computer backup involves making a copy of your | | | | engaged. |
| data on another storage device for use in an | | | | Advantages of Offsite Backup |
| emergency when the original data becomes | | | | Offsite backup offers significant advantages over |
| inaccessible due to some damage. With a backup, the | | | | regular backup methods. |
| lost data is quickly replaced and the user continues | | | | |
| working as usual. The importance of taking a regular | | | | 1. You save the cost of storage media like CD-ROMs, |
| backup of all your data is self-evident. | | | | DVD-ROMs and portable hard drives that you would |
| Backup Methods | | | | use for ordinary backup. For copying a huge amount |
| Here, the question that arises is, where does one | | | | of data, dozens or more of these may be required |
| take the data backup? Obviously it cannot be on the | | | | each day. |
| hard disk because if that fails then both the original | | | | 2. Automatic offsite backup frees manpower that |
| data as well as the backup, will be lost. A decade | | | | would otherwise be assigned to copy data manually |
| ago, the most common backup device was a floppy | | | | from office computers on a day-to-day basis. The |
| disk that had a capacity of just 1.4 MB. It is however | | | | process of copying voluminous data for backup can |
| obsolete and a floppy disk drive is no longer available | | | | take hours. |
| on most new computers. | | | | 3. Offsite backup is fully automatic, taken every day |
| Today, the place of the floppy disk has been taken | | | | without any human supervision or direction. |
| over by CD-ROMs and, increasingly, by DVD-ROMs. | | | | 4. The integrity of the backup data is guaranteed, |
| But these have a size limitation of 800 MB and 4.7 | | | | since the server double-checks the data sent by the |
| GB, respectively. Same is true with other devices like | | | | client software. In regular backup, the storage media |
| portable hard drives. Their capacities are not good | | | | may turn out to be faulty or the recording may not |
| enough when a huge amount of data has to be | | | | have been done properly, thus defeating the whole |
| backed up as a matter of routine, especially by | | | | purpose of the exercise. |
| organisations like banks and insurance companies | | | | 5. Since the data resides on remote servers, it |
| whose data storage requirements are phenomenal. | | | | cannot be stolen or suffer from employee sabotage. |
| Offsite data backup is a great solution to this | | | | 6. There is no unauthorized backing up of data, since |
| problem. | | | | every time you give a backup command, the |
| Offsite Backup | | | | software requests the authorisation code. |
| In offsite backup, also called remote backup, the | | | | 7. There is complete security as the data after |
| user data is sent long distance via the Internet or | | | | encryption cannot be read even by the backup |
| some other network to remote servers for storage. | | | | service provider. It can only be accessed by an |
| In the last few years, broadband Internet | | | | encryption key that always remains with the |
| connections have become widespread while the cost | | | | customer. |
| of online connectivity has reduced drastically. Due to | | | | 8. In regular backup, the data as well as its backup |
| this, the method of taking offsite backups has | | | | stay in the same building. This can be catastrophic in |
| become popular not only with big enterprises but also | | | | case of fire or natural disasters like floods, cyclones |
| with small businesses and individuals. | | | | or earthquakes. In offsite backup, the data is stored |
| How Offsite Backup Works - Many companies today | | | | safe and sound hundreds of miles away on remote |
| specialise in providing offsite backup services. In this, | | | | servers. |
| the backup company reserves space on its servers | | | | 9. Unlike the case of offsite backup, there is a |
| for your data. You have to load the | | | | danger of misplacing or damaging your backup data in |
| company-provided client software on your computer. | | | | office clutter. |
| This software remains hidden on the hard disk and | | | | 10. In offsite backup, the regular backup of your data |
| does not interfere with any other programme. It | | | | is guaranteed since the client software doesn't |
| keeps track of date and time and when the next | | | | commit human errors -it never forgets or goes on |
| backup is due. | | | | sick leave! It is always reliable and on schedule. |
| On the appointed hour (which is usually at night when | | | | 11. Offsite backup offers access to your data from |
| the computers are unoccupied), it becomes active | | | | anywhere in the world. If your office building |
| and, on its own, decides which files need backup. It | | | | collapses or you are unable to access your premises, |
| compresses the required data to a fraction of its | | | | all you have to do is buy new computers, download |
| original size and encrypts it using an encryption key | | | | all data from the server and you are back in business! |
| that only the customer has access to. After the | | | | 12. Offsite backup typically takes several copies or |
| encryption, the client software activates the Internet | | | | versions of the same data to ensure redundancy. |
| connection and shoots the data across the wires to | | | | 13. Some offsite backup services work round the |
| the remote server, which may be located thousands | | | | clock, backing up data every time you save a new |
| of miles away, for safe storage. The data is verified | | | | file on your computer or make changes in existing |
| by the server to ensure that it is an exact copy of | | | | data. Thus, your backup remains as old as the last |
| what resides on your computer and that no | | | | time you made any changes to the data. |
| corruption has taken place enroute. Once the backup | | | | |