Title : Backup System
Audience : Small business principals and managers. Non technical staff with an interest in backup systems.
User I.T. Knowledge 3/10
Source : Http://www.backupanytime.com/whitepaper.htm
Posted : May 07
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Copyright : backupanytime original content.
Redistribution as is : No permission required (with credits)
Modification : With written permission from backupanytime.
Backup System
A backup system is the sum of your entire backup inventory. Regardless of your business type or scale it should include some or all of the following:
Backup system software: The actual program or programs you use to backup data.
The backup software you use should be backup specific software designed and produced by backup specialists. It should be intuitive and work ongoing with minimal user input requirement. It should come with support and have a proven track record.
Backup system hardware: The device(s) such as servers and workstations which your backup software runs on.
Where possible, your backups should run on systems which have no other or limited other functions but which have access to all areas requiring backup. In a very small office environment this may not be considered a viable option but given the massive reduction in costs pertaining to almost all things I.T. This should at least be considered.
Backup media: The tapes or drives your backups are incremented to.
While tape comes under much criticism as a backup media, this is generally when compared to online backup. If online backup is not an option then tape has to be given serious consideration. D.V.D. is not a preferred option unless online is not possible and tape is considered too expensive. Removable mini drives are not a backup and should never be used as backup. USB drives are not reliable enough and often “flash” on entry or exit causing a complete irretrievable deletion of all contents.
Backup storage area: A part or device on your network on which backups are held.
Again, the reduction in costs of N.A.S. (network attached storage devices) and stand alone R.A.I.D. (redundant array of inexpensive disks) devices have made these a viable option for small business. The important thing here is to choose a quality option which will be utilized. All too often small business are impressed by storage capacity beyond their needs and purchase quantity they do not need at the behest of required quality.
Backup procedures: The rules by which your backups are managed and maintained.
These should be simple and strictly adhered to. They should lend themselves to ultimately having multiple copies of all required data and zero excess unneeded data. They should negate the possibility of a backup being missed or failing without notifications being read and dealt with. A number of persons should have the ability to step in to each others shoes to allow for sickness, annual leave and staff turnover. Outside help should be available as required and without notice. The task if supported correctly should not be intimidating or cause worry and stress.
Backup personnel: The in house person(s) who are responsible for managing backups.
These individuals should be trustworthy given they will have access to and responsibility for the company data. Ideally they should be long term staff who through time have developed their own genuine vested interest in the business. Backup should not be seen as a chore but as an essential task which only trustworthy individuals would be appointed to.
Backup support: Outside or in house individuals who have expertise and can provide same as required.
Backup support is absolutely essential. If it is not in place before a disaster recovery requirement it may at worst be unavailable and at best very expensive after a disaster recovery requirement. Limited or zero prearranged backup support will make backup “a task to be avoided” in your organization further increasing the risk of critically needing something you do not have. Also, the best backup support is only as good as the backups it has to work with. Decide now, who you would call if you suffered serious data loss and involve them in your data loss avoidance plans.
In summary
A backup system is more than a device, a media set and a procedure. It does not need to break the bank. It does need to be self verifying and continuous. Backup is not an action which helps after the fact. Do not wait till you lose data to establish a quality backup system. Call backupanytime today and we will backup your data tonight.
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.
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