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Choose the best backup system for your needs. There are hundreds of backup options, ranging from small floppy drives to huge optical disk jukeboxes. For small businesses, the most economical choice is usually some type of tape cartridge backup. Moderate systems range in price from $200 to $500, with tapes in the $30-$50 range. Software for the system is often -- but not always -- included with the backup drive. |
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Best advice: Buy as much data capacity as you can afford and make sure the system can be fully automated for nightly backups. |
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Choose the best backup mode for your information. Most offices should backup their systems on a daily basis, although some computers may only need backing up once a week or less. There are three basic ways to backup:
- Full Backup:This mode is safest but can be time-consuming for large networks. Restoring data, however, is a simple one-step process.
- Differential Backup: This process compares and updates files that have changed since the last full backup. File restoration is a two-step process using both the last full backup tape and the most recent differential backup tape.
- Incremental Backup: This mode backs up data files that have changed since the last incremental or full backup. Of all three, this backup mode is the quickest. However, data restoration is a bit trickier. You will first need to restore all data from the last full backup tape and then restore again from the first incremental tape, then the second incremental, then the third, and so on. Tapes must be restored in order and none can be skipped or data will be lost.
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Best advice: Whichever mode you choose be sure to first do a full backup of your network(s). This should be done at least once a week. And don't forget to test it by trying to restore specific files backed up from various locations. All new tapes should be tested this way and any with problems should be immediately replaced. |
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Off-premise storage: Play it safe. Even with the most reliable backup system, your data won't be safe if it's all in one place. While it isn't usually necessary to keep all backup tapes off-site, it is a good idea to make and "take home" at least one full backup every couple months for permanent storage. These archival tapes should be rewound once a year using the backup software's retention function. In addition, some companies have someone take home the most recent backup each night, bringing it back each morning to exchange for the previous night's tape. A less burdensome option: Rotate each Friday's (or Monday's) full backup tape set. Label two tape sets "A" and "B." Use tape set A for the week's full backup, keeping set B off-site. The next week, switch the tapes, using set B for the week's full backup and keeping set A off-site. |
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Best advice: Assign one person in the office to be responsible for monitoring, scheduling, testing, and maintaining the backup system and all related procedures. |
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Advisor Main Page-let us email the next
issue to you. |
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page 1 - current issue
-guidelines for
preventing data loss. |
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Questions? Call Alon Systems at (314) 428-2208. Business needs change and so does technology. We'll be happy to answer questions about your existing data protection methods and needs.
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