Title : Online backup
Audience : Small business online backup operators.
Source : Http://www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm
Posted : March 07
Copyright : backupanytime original content.
Redistribution as is : No permission required (with credits)
Modification : With written permission from backupanytime..

Online Backup

Online backup is considered by many people and providers to be a simple process of securely sending information from one location to another to allow for availability should anything happen to the data at the first location.
This however is not a backup, it is a file transfer. A file transfer is not a backup. The scenario described above seems to assume the second location as infallible. No location can be considered absolutely safe for data.
Of paramount importance is what your online backup company does and does not do with your data.

There are three things they should do.

1 Backup :
This may seen a little too obvious but some so called "online backup” providers do not actually backup their client data. Many "online backup companies" simply allow it do upload to a server which they often do not even have physical access to. Commonly a so called "online backup company" will pay a data center to accept all of their client data in bulk. This gives them bulk discounts on “data storage” and they invoice you without the discount for “data backup”.

2 Mirror :
You know now that your online backup providers servers or third party servers hired by them are not infallible. One of the ways of reducing the risk is to keep the data in a number of locations. This also provider more cover in the event of the online backup companys' broadband being down as it can give you a choice of locations to retrieve data from.

3 Archive :
The copies of data you send through online backup may become corrupt or unreadable. This requires multiple copies to be retained and managed so that in a worst case scenario, if clean data is not available that at least an archive copy from your archive date selection (online backup providers vary in their archive policy but you should require 365 day default and steer clear of any online backup company who peddles 30 days archive) can be provided.

It is more common for smaller online backup providers to mirror to a bulk data center than it is for them to backup. Very few data centers backup third party information as the essence of the data center is connectivity and redundancy rather than backup and this lends itself to server uptime service level agreements rather than any commitment to backup data. Ensure your provider actually backs up your data. Get details of their procedure and commitments for it on paper. If there are any hesitations from your representative when asked “What will you do with my data?”, you should reconsider your options. Archive and default retention periods are essential when things go wrong. If you are going to pay for commercial online backup you should be satisfied it is as “worst case scenario friendly” as possible. You should be looking for a provider who does the following.

Backs up your data.
Mirrors your data.
Archives your data.
Offers restore from more than one location.
Has access to and full authority over their primary data store.
Provides excellent technical support.
Has a local presence and can provide for “technician in van” requirement.
Tells you exactly what happens to your data. Trade secrets are never good in the world of online backup.

In summary.
If a service is described using the word backup, most people would expect that the provider would and should actually backup. We at backupanytime.com agree. Our usage of the word “backup” is far more discerning than the usage in general non backup data centers. We do not see a mirror service as a backup. It is a mirror service. We do not see a raid system as a backup. It is a raid system. We do not see additional live copies as a backup. They are additional live copies.

A backup is a securely encrypted, compressed and managed cold store which is not required for normal function and will not be added to. By data cold storage we mean that it be kept on media which is not part of or in residence with any live system.

So, now you know what a back is, when are you going to apply it to your data?
Call backupanytime.com today and start backing up “for real” tonight.

Backupanytime are Irelands largest independent online backup providers.

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.

"Data outages can not be totally avoided. They can and must be prepared for"
backupanytime, a team that makes and keeps commitments.

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