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Computer
Advice from the Experts
How
to Prevent the Loss of Vital
Company Data
Data
backups are like a car's
spare tire. We seldom think
about them until we need
them, but when we need them
we REALLY, REALLY NEED them!
Here's how to develop layers
of protection that will
help you whether you've
simply overwritten a valuable
file or lost the entire
office to a fire or flood.
A
hard drive crash CAN happen
to you, with the resulting
loss of data. In fact, odds
are it WILL happen to you
unless you take steps to
avoid the loss. It stands
to reason that the most
complex mechanical component
in a computer system is
the one most likely to fail;
that component is your hard
drive. The good news is
that your systems and data
can be brought back to life!
I
mentioned "layers"
of protection. Here's what
we typically do with our
clients.
1) A technology assessment
of your company identifies
your critical information
- your databases, email
files, billing information,
customer lists, direct mail
database, marketing data,
pricing information, accounts
receivable (and all other
accounting files), scheduling
data, tax returns, and other
vital files -- whatever
they might be.
2)
Next we build a local repository
that stores a copy of these
files. This could be an
older machine, repurposed
to maintain an up-to-date
copy of your corporate info,
or just another PC in the
office. Depending on the
amount of data to be copied,
an additional hard drive
may be installed.
3)
Finally, for disaster recovery
purposes, an offsite copy
of this vital information
is made. We recommend using
an Internet-based remote
backup service. (We don't
recommend tape drives for
a variety of reasons.)
Your
offsite copy is made once
a day, just as you would
a tape backup -- but using
a remote backup service
is a better idea. A remote
backup service reduces hardware
problems, eliminates the
possibility of human error
(changing tapes, etc.) and
facilitates recovery in
the event of a true disaster.
With a remote backup service
you just download your data
to get it back. Once you've
logged in to the remote
backup server, you can see
your files and restore them
yourself, or copy them to
any computer you want. It's
really quite simple. The
better remote backup systems
offer multiple versions
of each file, so you can
go back in time and restore
older copies if needed.
ANYTHING
is better than nothing.
If you don't have any backups,
then go buy a 300GB or 500GB
external hard drive (Maxtor
OneTouch drives are excellent)
and get started. When you've
copied your data, pack the
drive back up and put it
in the trunk of your car.
Update the drive weekly.
But check out our Internet-based
remote backup service before
you do -- it is an excellent
value.
About
the Author: Stephen
Worden, the principal consultant
for Illuminova Technical
Services, has 25 years of
computer, network, and electronics
experience. His company
specializes in small business
support, of up to fifty
computers or so. We provide
local and remote backup
services to many of our
clients. If there's anything
we can do to help, kindly
give us a call at (302)
999-1899 or learn more at
www.illuminova.com.
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