Posted by Eric O. Schueler, Senior V.P. of Information Technology
Disaster Proof Your Business With Data Backup
With Hurricane season active June through November, now is the time to make sure your company is ready for a disaster. You need to know:
- What data helps your business function on a day-to-day basis?
- What important data and files would paralyze your business if they were damaged or lost?
- Can you access your data systems from an outside location?
- In case of an evacuation, can you keep track of your employees, where they go and the work they can do?
Natural disasters, fires, theft, viruses and hard drive failure are all risks that can obliterate your business’s essential files. Natural disasters are becoming more dangerous and unpredictable due to extreme weather changes. According to FEMA and ready.gov all businesses should have disaster recovery plans with data backup solutions. There are several different types of data backup services and solutions.
Types of data backup solutions
Full computer data backup services make it possible for the entire computer hard drive to be restored. It not only backs up files, videos, etc. but it also backs up the operating system and programs. Full computer data backup takes an entire picture of the hard drive to completely restore the computer to its full capacity in the case of disaster and/or failure.
Storing files on CDs, external hard drives or Network Attached Storage (NAS) are examples of local data backup solutions. The advantage of local data backup is that it is easily accessible onsite, should files accidentally get deleted and need to be restored. The disadvantage is that is does not meet disaster recovery standards because should a natural disaster occur, the data storage devices could be destroyed.
Offsite data backup occurs when data is backed up and then stored offsite at another location. Data storage mediums can vary, from discs, external drives, etc. and provide physical protection of the data should fire, theft, floods or other disasters occur.
Offsite data backup solutions can include online data backup. This is when data storage is done online, automatically, through a network, and stored offsite at data centers. Online data backup service options are available by an IT company like HRCT and are a convenient way to backup important files and information. Since data backup doesn’t have to be done manually like traditional local or off-site data storage, it can be a less time consuming solution.
Cloud data backup is when computer files and data are backed up and stored via the internet. It is similar to online data backup, but it differs in the way that data can be easily accessed by a simple login and password. It offers the same protection as online and offsite data backup solutions with additional protection and better access. Cloud data is replicated over several devices preventing problems from a single point of failure.
Learn more about data backup and disaster recovery through HRCT.
Call today. (757) 399-3350
Read about three ways to use backup technology before disaster at StorageCraft.com.
Hampton Roads Communication Technologies (HRCT) offers data backup services and disaster recovery and full computer and IT solutions. HRCT provides quality business telecommunications solutions to companies and organizations throughout the United States, Mid-Atlantic and the Hampton Roads Virginia cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News and Hampton, north into Williamsburg and south into the Outer Banks of North Carolina. HRCT keeps your company connected with 24/7 emergency service.
Call today. (757) 399-3350
Posted by Eric O. Schueler, A+, MCP, MCSE, MCTS, CSSA, ACSP – Senior V.P. of Information Technology at HRCT. Eric has been in the business of providing IT and consulting for small and medium business for more than 15 years.
Sources: typesofbackup.com,ready.gov
Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net: Stuart Miles (Data Backup), Danilo Rizzuti (Hardware on Fire)