| In researching offsite data backup and recovery | | | | cannot possibly pay for a team of qualified storage |
| services, I've read a number of horror stories about | | | | specialists to monitor and test your backups on a |
| business owners that subscribed to (and paid for) an | | | | daily basis. |
| online backup service for many months, only to find | | | | There is no team of people behind a $5/month |
| that they could not actually recover their information | | | | backup service. No one is checking to make sure that |
| when they needed to. Why would this happen? | | | | your backup is actually happening every day. No one |
| In fact, such "horror stories" are not uncommon in | | | | will call you if your backup stops working. No one |
| the online data backup and recovery industry. This is | | | | cares. Even your credit card gets charged |
| the unfortunate reality for several reasons: | | | | automatically every month, no matter if your backup |
| 1) Business owners download and install the online | | | | completed a single time in the last 30 days, or NOT. |
| backup software of their choice all on their own. | | | | 3) New applications are installed on the business |
| This is a huge mistake. | | | | computer, but the business owner fails to manually |
| Why? Because these business owners are experts in | | | | add these new files to their downloaded backup |
| their fields-like coaching, speaking, writing, marketing, | | | | system, or they fail to notify their full-service backup |
| sales, retail etc.-but are not experts when it comes | | | | provider about the new programs. |
| to technology, their computers, and their digital | | | | New programs must be added to your backup set, |
| information. | | | | or the information will not be stored. |
| They know how to use their computers, but they | | | | If you invest in a full-service online backup service, |
| certainly couldn't take apart and rebuild them. | | | | you will receive regular reminders to contact them |
| Likewise, they don't have a full understanding of how | | | | should new applications be installed on your |
| (and where) their information is actually stored on | | | | computers. At which point, their storage specialists |
| their computer's hard drive. | | | | will connect remotely to your computers, and make |
| And here's a fact: no two computers save | | | | the adjustments to your backup set so that all of |
| information in exactly the same directories, folders | | | | your new files are also backed up on a daily basis. |
| and files. | | | | If you are thinking about downloading your backup |
| So how can one downloadable "standard" backup | | | | software from the web, you must familiarize yourself |
| program, that non-tech-savvy business owners set | | | | with the steps to add new files to your backup set, |
| up themselves, possibly find and backup all of the | | | | and trust that the software will recognize and backup |
| critical and proprietary information stored on their | | | | your new programs. |
| computer? | | | | Automated offsite backup services are the absolute |
| It's impossible. | | | | best way to protect the future of your business, but |
| So what happens? The downloadable backup | | | | none of these services are psychic. Software |
| software doesn't get installed and set up properly in | | | | programs such as these are not intuitive, so they |
| the first place. Information is missed, and because | | | | don't realize that a new application has been installed |
| this information is not initially included in the backup | | | | on your computer. And if they don't know that these |
| set, it never gets backed up ... and therefore cannot | | | | new files exist, they can't include them in your |
| be recovered. | | | | backup set. |
| 2) Cost conscious business owners trust their critical | | | | In this regard, business owners must be diligent in |
| information to the cheapest backup service they can | | | | communicating with their backup service providers to |
| find on the web, and later find out that no systems | | | | ensure that ALL of their critical information is being |
| are in place to monitor the completion of their | | | | backed up every day. |
| backup, and no alarms are triggered when their | | | | In conclusion, making the decision to backup your |
| backup is not successful. | | | | business is an investment that can literally save you |
| You really do get what you pay for. Don't make the | | | | from bankruptcy, and protect all of the hours, dollars, |
| mistake of bargain shopping when it comes to | | | | blood, sweat and tears that you've invested thus far |
| protecting the information that allows you to earn a | | | | in building your business. It's one of the smartest |
| living and support your family. | | | | decisions that you can make as a business owner. |
| Just do the math. | | | | And you should absolutely research and compare |
| If you're thinking about paying $5/month to | | | | these backup services. |
| automatically backup and store offsite all of your | | | | My advice, clearly, is to invest in a full-service online, |
| emails, teleseminars, pdf files, prospect lists, client | | | | automated backup solution, with a team of storage |
| database, accounting files, office documents, | | | | specialists that install and set up the backup |
| photographs and image files, you're thinking about | | | | application for you, personally monitor your backup, |
| protecting the future of your business with the "best | | | | and contact you immediately if your backup is not |
| deal" going. | | | | completing successfully. |
| But what you don't know is that the "best deal" is so | | | | Because otherwise, your may just have your own |
| darn cheap because it's running on automatic in the | | | | horror story to tell. |
| worst sense of the word. Just think: $5/month | | | | |