Maximize Your Business with IT: Backup & Disaster Recovery
Talk to any manager at any large organization, and they are likely to have an interesting disaster-related story to tell. Perhaps a virus wiped out an entire email system, or a power surge corrupted hundreds of important business documents. Or, maybe a flood destroyed servers that stored mission-critical customer data.
According to statistics, you don’t need to worry about if a disaster will strike – you need to worry about when. Hard drives have manufacturer warranties that last no longer than one to three years. And, computer systems are so complex and intricate that a small problem with one little component can cause a chain reaction and bring your entire infrastructure down in a matter of seconds.
Are you prepared?
The first thing you will need is some sort of backup device. It can be an old computer, a network-attached storage device, or even a tape or DVD drive. You must schedule a complete data backup to run each night, so you can retrieve recent versions of your files in the event of an emergency. You can use the basic backup software that comes standard with your computer or DVD drive, or you can purchase one of the many other solutions available today, including BrightStor, Overland Storage, EMC, and Quantum.
If you cannot afford even a single minute of downtime during a backup, you need to look into complete backup solutions. Packages like Acronis True Image can take a live snapshot of your hard drive and store it on a DVD, network server, or other hard drive. You can revert back to the saved image at any time. Simply replace the corrupted hard drive with a new one, boot from the recovery disk, and point the software to your backup files. You’re entire system, exactly as it was at the time of your last backup, will be completely restored within an hour. Your emails, Internet favorite places, programs, and documents will be easily retrievable, as if nothing happened.
After you configure your data backup, it is wise to add a few additional layers of protection:
Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)
Uninterrupted power supplies can be found at any computer or recording store, and cost between $80 and $200. These devices protect all of your electronic equipment from damage caused by power surges and power loss. Choosing a UPS with a bigger battery will give you more time to save your documents in the event of a sustained or long-term power loss. And, don’t forget to configure an automatic software shutdown in the event of a power failure. This will further minimize damage by saving your documents in their most current state, and safely shutting the computer down.
Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)
RAID devices allow you to write on two or more hard drives at the same time, in case one of them fails. With a RAID device, there is always another hard drive that contains the exact same data set. So, unless all hard drives give out at the same time, which would be highly unlikely, you always have another available drive with the same exact data.
Off-Site Backup
Backing up your data using on-site solutions can offer effective protection against system failures. But, what do you do in the event of a flood, fire, or burglary? Disasters like these require off-site back up. Whether you use a tape, CD, or DVD, make sure you conduct a weekly backup to a remote network location, or have a third-party provider back up your data via the Internet. There are many services available, ranging in price from free to about $100 per month. Compare the various plans offered by EVault, Mozy, LiveVault, and other service providers, and see which one will best fit your needs.
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Tip: Do not forget to test your backups regularly. If you backup your data to faulty media you will have no way to restore your files and applications after a disaster. |