The notion of backing up important data should be familiar to anyone. Accidents happen, and if a computer that has your data fails, it’s lost unless it was backed up somehow.
But the process is more complicated now. Technology and its threats have evolved, and the stakes are higher than ever. Businesses depend on data more and more, and the amount of data is far higher than it was a few years ago.
Here’s what you need to know about backup systems and strategies:
Tape-Based Backup vs. Disk-Based Backup
In the small-to-medium-size business sector, disk-based backups seem to have won the battle. Disks are less prone to failure, and data transfer to and from disks is fast. Moreover, recovery from disks is faster as well, and finding single files to restore is much easier from disk backups.
In larger enterprises, many still prefer large-scale tape backup systems. The key to preserving tape backups is taking humans out of the mix. Magnetic media is sensitive, and the more it’s handled or moved around, the more likely it’ll be affected. We have seen companies lose valuable data because someone took tapes offsite and the magnetic clasp on a purse destroyed the data! (True story!)
On-site or Offsite Backup
The best option here is both. It’s not a new concept: for years, businesses would hand-carry that day’s backup on tape, CD, or DVD offsite in case of disaster. Sometimes it was a bank vault or someone’s home.
The adoption of cloud computing has made this process much easier and more automated. For systems that store backed-up data on-site, it’s updating along the way. The incremental changes that occur can be uploaded to a cloud-based storage site after hours when the demands on bandwidth are less.
The on-site backups are quickly available for minor issues, and off-site backups are the key to recovering from major disasters.
Data Backup or Image Backup
Once again, the best option here is both choices. Since the whole reason for backing up data is to recover from a disaster, it’s vital to back up images as well. Your data is important, but the image backups will enable you to deploy replacements for machines much faster. This is key when resuming business operations quickly after a disaster. Image backups are also handy for recovering from a crashed server or a virus infection.
Clare Computer Solutions understands that every business is different. We can help you choose a backup and disaster recovery scheme that will fit your needs and your budget. Contact us to get started.
