A few piece of advice on taking backups

We understand that taking timely backups is necessary for your organization. Here's a piece of advice on taking backups:

• The more important the data that is stored on the computer the greater the need is for backing up this data.
• A backup is only as useful as its associated restore strategy.
• Storing the copy near the original is unwise, since many disasters such as fire, flood and electrical surges are likely to cause damage to the backup at the same time.
• Automated backup and scheduling should be considered, as manual backups can be affected by human error.
• Backups will fail for a wide variety of reasons. A verification or monitoring strategy is an important part of a successful backup plan.
• It is good to store backed up archives in open/standard formats. This helps with recovery in the future when the software used to make the backup is obsolete. It also allows different software to be used.
  

Back up terminologies #1

• Backup policy
  These are the rules & procedures of any organization providing backup services to ensure that adequate amounts & types of backups are made which also include timed testing of the backup processes for restoring the original production system from the backup copies.
• Backup rotation scheme
  It is a method for effectively backing up the live data where multiple media are systematically moved from storage to usage in the backup process and then back to storage. There are several different schemes available with it. Each takes a different approach to balance the need for a long retention period with frequently backing up changes. Some schemes are more complicated than others and the implementation depends upon the type of data & infrastructure available.
• Backup site
  It's the place where business can continue after a data loss event. Such a site may have ready access to the backups or possibly even a continuously updated mirror. The backup site is usually off the business place.
• Backup software
  The software application that is used to perform the backing up of data, ie, the systematic generation of backup copies.
• Backup window
  The period of time that a system is available to perform a backup procedure. Backup procedures can have detrimental effects to system and network performance, sometimes requiring the primary use of the system to be suspended. These effects can be mitigated by arranging a backup window with the users or owners of the system(s).
  

Offsite data backup websites

There are many websites on the internet that provide you mechanism with which you can backup your data offsite at multi-locations worldwide and keep your data safe & secure. Some of the websites providing such a mechanism are:

• Backup Data Offsite
• Offsite Backup Solutions
• Offsite Backups
• Crash Plan
• Backup Platinum
• Offsite Backup
• Ahsay
• Amic Tools
• HP
• Mozy
• XS Backup
• Keep It
• Drive HQ
• Diino

Most of the websites above provide a FREE Trial and some of them are even completely free.

Why offsite backup?

Companies understand that backup of their crucial data is a necessity as they just can't take risk of loosing data in any manner. Even today, many companies rely on the local backup of their data for the protection but the truth is that local data backups are just not enough. Local backup won't protect your data from fire, flood, theft or any other natural calamity.

Portable media can be an option with offsite backups but even it has a limitation as we have to rely upon people to transport data to a safe location. Portable storage is generally not as reliable, easily stolen, not encrypted & most often goes untested.

Given the above conditions the only option that stands undoubtedly on the top is the offsite backup of the data. Generally, people use internet alongwith a document management system to save their data at multiple locations so that their data remains safe, secure & encrypted at various locations across the globe.

Methods of taking backup

There are many methods to take backup of your data. Most of the data is either saved in encrypted form or in compressed form. Some of the mediums on which data is stored are:

• CDs (obsolete now)
• Compact Flash
  
• DVDs
• Flash Memory
  
• Floppy drives (obsolete now)
• Hard Disks
  
• Magnetic Tapes
• Memory Sticks
  
• Pen Drives
• RAID
• Secure Digital Cards
  
• SmartMedia
• Thumb Drives
  

We will be having a look into the above mentioned devices and how can these be used to safeguard our data.

Why back up is important?

In any office the most important thing is INFORMATION. All our data, files, print outs, etc contain information that can be used to take decisions in any given condition or scenario. Large organisations such as banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, etc. interact with large number of people and store intricate information about people such as their financial information which can be crucial to there life. Another example is of large portals which keep the personal information of people stored within their databases.

Think of a scenario when suddenly due to natural calamity or fire the data gets deleted, burnt, destroyed or stolen. The people would blame the banks, insurance companies, mutual funds & portals for negligence & irresponsible behaviour.

To escape from such circumstances large organisations don't store data at just one place. They don't just store the crucial information at multiple locations but also at multiple cities or countries which enables them to keep the data safe & secure from such natural calamities or disaster.

The (crucial) data must always be stored safely & securely at multiple locations.