| Safe Backup
Title : Safe Backup
Source : http://www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm
Posted : Aug 07
Copyright : backupanytime original content.
Redistribution as is : No permission required (with
credits)
Modification : With written permission from backupanytime..
Throughout our articles you will read much about how
appropriate or otherwise various different types of
backups and backup procedures may be. We felt it was
would be helpful to produce a simple document relating
to the safety of backup as that is the most important
factor. Other factors such as speed and convenience
are doubtless important but fade to near insignificance
when trying to identify the one crucial factor. Your
backup absolutely has to be safe. Safe backup should
therefore be your number one concern when updating a
current backup system or introducing a new one altogether.
This document pertains to the safety of backup in so
far as data is safe. It has no health and safety content
and is concerned with backup operation safety as against
backup operator safety. If you have concerns about the
physical safety of any of your systems please alert
your health and safety supervisor.
Hardware
The safety of any local backups are very much dependent
on the hardware your data is processed, used and stored
on. Low quality and poorly maintained hardware can result
in data loss or corrupted data going to backup.
Media
The local medial you use for backup must be of the highest
standard and be tested and revised.
Software
Your online and offline backup software must be updated
frequently to remain capable of backing up new file
types and conditions as operating systems update.
In house users
Any in house users of the backup system must be fully
familiar with and supported in their usage of the system.
Local support
Your on the ground, local computer support company should
be involved from the outset in any modification or implementation
of a backup system.
Backup provider support
Your online backup provider should be available to you
and your general I.T. Support to answer any questions
pertaining to safe online backup and should be available
out of hours and on site if your general computer providers
need them.
Encryption and encryption codes
Encryption should be to bank level. Your provider should
not have access to the code. You should be able to change
it and do so on occasion. You should retain it in at
least two safe locations. Ideally one copy in a fire
proof safe and the other off site.
The gray areas
There quite simply can't be any. If you are unsure about
any area of your backups address it immediately. Ask
your provider. It is in their interest that everything
be functioning to produce safe backups. Any hesitation
in helping or even a glimmer of a condescending answer
to you the client with genuine concerns over data is
not a gray area, it it a red flag. If the enquiry is
silly, so be it. You should get a straight answer and
feel welcome to ask some more.
Testing
Your backup systems need to be tested on installation
and at regular intervals ongoing. Ongoing testing should
be simple and should not require more than a few minutes
to get a simple black or white result.
Reporting
Your backups must be self reporting. Your provider should
be able to send reports to all interested parties nominated
by you such as in house admin, backup operator, management
and outside tech support.
Data selection
This absolutely has to be correct. What is not selected
is not backed up. This should be revisited at scheduled
intervals as new areas and users on the network broadens
the required scope to ensure safe backup.
Retention and archive policies
This relates to how long you keep data and how many
copies you keep. You need to get a balance between what
you want, what you need, max retention legislation,
minimum retention legislation and cost.
Data audit
You should have a detailed data audit at least annually
to ensure selection is correct, to deselect any invalid
data, check encryption code, reconsider retention period,
check hardware and do vigorous testing. This should
be a joint venture between you, your local I.T. support
and your online backup providers.
In summary
Little in life is perfect. Your backup has to be. Not
because you expect to use it frequently or intend to
use it ever but because when you need it, you really
need it. If you do not have a safe backup system in
place or if you are in any way unsure about this you
need to address the issue as a matter of extreme urgency.
Before you have an issue there are a large amount of
agencies you can chose from to provide you with a reliable
economical system. If you do not address the issue on
time you will be left to chose from a much smaller number
of specialist data retrieval companies. Data retrieval
is a far less pleasant requirement than data restore.
Data retrieval is very expensive work and often fails
regardless of client spend and supplier capability.
If you found this document helpful you may like to
visit www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm
or our website proper at www.backupanytime.com
If you are a system administrator and would like technical
details please register your interest on our contact
page requesting membership of our private white
paper area for I.T. Professionals.
"Data outages can not be totally
avoided. They can and must be prepared for"
Think backup, think backupanytime.
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