Backup to ensure your business moves forward.
“Those who do not archive the past
are condemned to retype it!”
~Garfinkel and Spafford
~ Practical UNIX Security (first edition)
In the very first edition of “The Client-Server” newsletter, back in 1997, we shared a story about the then, first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the impact it had on businesses that lost access to their company data. You may recall, the North Tower was attacked with a car bomb. Among the many lessons within that tragedy was the significance of businesses retaining off-site data backups. A number of companies were unable to access their company data for weeks while the FBI closed off and surveyed the building. Many of the businesses who had no off-site data storage simply could not operate and tragically went out of business. This example really underscores the importance of keeping data off site. In this case, the data was not even damaged – it was simply inaccessible.
The good news is, today’s backup technologies offer countless improvements compared to those of the past. From compression, speed, capacity, devices, tapes, even software. And, improved access to bandwidth the internet as well as server virtualization create solutions for backup and off-site storage solutions that never previously existed!
Chances are you have business insurance. But, do you have data insurance? Remember, you can always buy servers and software – but you won’t be able to purchase your data. And, it’s your data that keeps your company alive.
STEPS TO HELP ENSURE DATA IS PRESERVED:
1) Backup the correct data
2) Test restore
3) Purchase multiple tapes and purchase them often!
4) Archive tapes Annually (min) quarterly (Safety DBox)
5) Offsite -safety deposit box
6) Review the above with your C3 Engineer!
7) If you backup to disk make sure you have an archive policy
8) Automate all backup scripts and practices where possible to minimize human error.
Backup and Disaster Recovery (C3 BDR is here!): For many clients a more, real-time business continuity and disaster recovery solution is the best option. These minimize downtime from days to hours in the event of a catastrophe. However, in the past such solutions cost thousands of dollars a month. Today, thanks to virtual server technology, C3 Networx provides a managed Backup and Disaster Recovery Program (BDR) custom designed to meet your business continuity objectives!
To summarize, we install a physical server with one or more virtual servers in your server closet taking ‘snapshots’ of your data and at night that data is sent via the internet (encrypted and compressed) to offsite collocation facility. There is a monthly fee ranging from approximate $200 – $600 or more a month depending on the number of servers. For more information ask your C3Networx engineer or email me.
Happy Holidays and let’s work together to ensure your valuable business data is protected and archived as we head into 2010!
Until next time,
Martin
btw: new windows 7 users check out this lifehacker article
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