Title : DISK TO DISK BACKUP
Audience : Small business principals and managers.
Source : Http://www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm
Posted : Sept 07
Copyright : backupanytime original content.
Redistribution as is : No permission required (with credits)
Modification : With written permission from backupanytime.

Disk to Disk Backup

What is disk to disk backup?
Disk to disk backup is the process backing up data from one disk or set of disks to another.

Common misunderstanding.
While dumping data from your internal hard drive on to a cheap usb based hard drive may be considered disk to disk backup in the literal sense, it is not in the spirit of safe disk to disk backup as a standard drive in a standard caddy is not a purpose built solution and carries the extreme risk of actually causing data loss through unmanaged intervention.

What is unmanaged intervention?
Manually dragging and dropping files from one media source to another makes no allowances for which files are in use by an application of windows. The process can and will cause irreversible data corruption.
Manually plugging drives in and out of computers requires the use of “safe removal”. Even if you abide by the basic principles of safe removal, you will in time cause a drive to flash where “flash” = “total irretrievable deletion of all contents”

So, what is in the spirit of safe disk to disk backup?
Safe disk to disk backup utilizes specialized devices which hold multiple disks in a a safe chamber and comes with hardware and software management to backup data across an array of disks and manage same.

Is this not just a raid array?
Yes and no. It may be and often is a raid array but the crucial difference is that it is not put together as a clone system for a server. It is independent, external and was built for the task and comes with management software and often its own B.I.O.S.

Why is “Disk to disk backup” such a major topic at the moment?
For years, actually decades, despite the obvious dangers of tape backup systems, there was no obvious replacement. With the advent of cheap hard drives, the convenience of dumping data to pen drives and external drives has increased the risk of mass data loss. This long term dependency on tape and recent common usage of high risk pen drives and hard drives has opened a clear niche for safe disk to disk backup.

What can I do to avail of this technology?
You can do one or both of the following.
1 Contact your I.T. Provider and ask them to quote for a disk to disk backup system and management and training.
2 Contact backupanytime and avail of online backup with fully managed disk to disk backup.

Who should use disk to disk backup?
Anyone who is serious about their data and wants to use the latest technology available to protect their critical files.

Is it expensive?
As with everything, you get what you pay for. Go for a branded option which provides enough space for your needs rather than a non branded option which caters for more space than you need. You can upgrade the drives to larger high quality drives as you need. The support, reliability and functionality of the host system is most important.

I want the security without the expense and management headache. What do I do?
Start backing up with backupanytime tonight and you will be using a world class system with the investment and management headache. Our system allows you to pay only for the portion of it you use.

How do I organize this?
Contact your local agent or backupanytime.com directly and we will organize it for you.

What input will I have to make?
All we need to know is what files you want to backup and what retention period you want to use.

Can I make amendments in the future without calling Backupanytime.com?
Yes. We prefer new clients to use the tech support line and avail of free support but your login gives you full autonomy over the system.

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 www.backupanytime.com/contact.htm requesting membership of our private white paper area for I.T. Professionals.

"Safe disk to disk back was never easier"
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