| iv> | | | | can, in a nanosecond, completely destroy a database |
| There are many uncontrollable weather factors that | | | | and the hardware containing it. The surge might |
| cause power outages, adversely affecting electronic | | | | occur during the disturbance, during operation of the |
| equipment. Among those factors, a lightning strike is | | | | equipment, and/or when power is restored. |
| far and away the most damaging, but also dangerous | | | | Destructive power surges can occur on any line |
| are things like accidental contact with power lines by | | | | running into your office — including AC power |
| repair trucks and other vehicles or even by animals. | | | | lines, telephone lines, and coaxial cable lines. One way |
| When power to a computer is disrupted, there | | | | or another, that means your servers — and all |
| frequently is a surge of current that can, in a | | | | data backed up on them — are at risk. |
| nanosecond, completely destroy a database. | | | | A simple surge protector strip affords only |
| Long ago, the successful sale of whatever widgets a | | | | the most minimal protection. For one thing, their |
| company offered wasn’t much affected one | | | | effectiveness depends upon human oversight and |
| way or another by weather. In today’s | | | | maintenance — and human beings mean |
| electronic business world, though, violent weather can | | | | human errors. (Accidentally clicked it off? |
| wreak havoc with threats to the data that make | | | | Whoops!) For another, if the surge protector has |
| possible the successful marketing of a service or | | | | been hit once, its efficacy is immediately cut |
| product. | | | | dramatically, affording hardly any protection at all |
| Florida is the undisputed Lightning Capitol of the U.S., | | | | from any subsequent strikes — yet many |
| with hundreds of thousands of strikes recorded each | | | | companies simply hit the re-set switch and continue |
| year; Texas ranks #2, but Pennsylvania leads the | | | | using the same protection. |
| nation in total lightning damage. In fact, the only | | | | The safe way to protect your invaluable business |
| places on earth relatively safe from lightning are | | | | data — customer background, ordering and |
| Arctic, Antarctic and the middle of the oceans. | | | | contact information, organizational files, etc. — |
| If a business happens to be located in a state with a | | | | is to have your data backed up by an online data |
| high incidence of lightning, one of the first things the | | | | storage and retrieval service. An online data backup |
| business owner learns is the importance of protecting | | | | system means that no matter what happens to your |
| customer and other business data from the mayhem | | | | physical plant or the tapes, CDs and servers housed |
| created by a sudden surge in power. Even if | | | | therein, your data is safe and you can retrieve it at |
| you’re not located in a high-risk state, the | | | | any time. |
| United States records millions of serious strikes every | | | | Today, a company’s electronic business data |
| year
coast to coast to coast to coast. No | | | | is most likely to be its more important, most valuable |
| business, anywhere in the country, is immune to | | | | asset. Protecting it with an online data backup and |
| them. | | | | storage services ensures that come what may |
| When a lightning strike — or any other form | | | | — hurricanes, floods, tornados, storms |
| of violent weather — abruptly severs power | | | | — that data is safe, secure, and the business |
| distribution, there usually is a surge of current that | | | | will go on as usual. |