| iness has been using remote data storage since they | | | | convenient and easy to use, it is also harder to care |
| began using computers. However, until recently the | | | | for. The safety of this valuable material is usually in |
| remote data storage companies have been priced | | | | the hands of a team of technicians who have to |
| out of the range of small business. New technology | | | | make backups, keep the storage technology going, |
| has changed that. As small businesses have changed | | | | and recreate the data in case of a loss. Outsourcing |
| from paper files to digital files, the costs for backing | | | | this important job is often the best answer. |
| them up in another location have come down | | | | By using remote data storage, the decisions on |
| dramatically. The need for data backup is evident, | | | | storage and encryption are left to experts without |
| since crashes of hard drives and servers can destroy | | | | adding the cost of an expert to the bottom line. The |
| vitally important records. Natural disasters like | | | | machinery that stores all of the business’s |
| hurricanes, tornadoes and floods can bring a business | | | | information is also not an extra cost to the business |
| down. The ability to recreate its records and | | | | owner, but is included in the service. Best of all, |
| information can be the difference between | | | | remote data storage means automatic backups. No |
| recovering the business and losing it. | | | | technician has to stay until 2 a.m. to run updates and |
| At Home and Away | | | | store the tapes in a safe place. Data downloads are |
| As information and technology become more | | | | set up to take place automatically. And the remote |
| important to every kind of business, the ability to | | | | data storage company can employ experts to keep |
| protect both becomes more important as well. In the | | | | the information safe from hackers and others. All this |
| past, a couple of secretaries and some file cabinets | | | | can give you peace of mind in knowing that any |
| were all that were needed to maintain and retrieve | | | | disaster that might strike the business office will not |
| any information needed to carry on a business. | | | | affect the place where the backups are stored. The |
| Today, the growing amounts of information needed | | | | cost of recreating the data files is also usually |
| and the demand for instant retrieval make digital | | | | included in the yearly cost, instead of becoming |
| storage a given. While data stored digitally is more | | | | another large expense following a disaster. |