- Which Backup is right for you depends on the value of your data and budget
Computer and server backup does not have to be complicated nor time consuming - modern solutions are more and more reliable because they successfully eliminate the human factor as a point of failure.
The Philosophy
We all know that backing up preserves the information that is stored on your server and workstations, but how far do you take your backup efforts? It depends on how much data you can 'afford' to lose.
For some businesses just backing up periodically will suffice. The thought here is that if you lose your data, you can restore it apart from your operating system, and the time that this takes is not a critical consideration.Low value data falls into this category. It makes sense as long as you are not dependent upon your computer for time-sensitive applications and tasks.
Other businesses depend on their dataand if for example a hard drive fails, their business is down until they can get it back up and running again. A more comprehensive backup plan is recommended to help recover from disasters in a timely manner.
Before we go further we need to define two very important concepts without which we cannot determine which is best for your specific situation.
- Recovery Time Objective (RTO) How much time it takes to have your data back online
- Recovery Point Objective (RPO) How much data can you afford to loose since the last backup
Computer Backup Options
There are several ways to tackle backups of your important data. They are:
Built-in operating system options. Microsoft Windows operating systems provide built-in back up capabilities that allows you to back up your documents or files onto external media. Beginning with Windows XP and its Automated System Recovery feature, each successive Microsoft desktop and server operating system includes the capability to help recover your entire hard drive if necessary. These backup solutions are reliable and provide a built-in way for you to back up your data without having to buy an additional program to do so.
Manual copying onto external devices. You can always resort to the old stand-by method of backing up by manually copying your data onto an external hard drive, USB memory stick or other external device such as a recordable CD or DVD. This is cumbersome, but if you do not have a lot of files, it may be an acceptable solution for you. The pitfalls with this method are that if you have multiple files, you have to make sure you get all of them, and you may need numerous target media to save all of your files.
Online options for backing up to "The Cloud". The newest option enables backup and restoration of your documents and files over an encrypted high-speed Internet connection to any server or workstation. A small background application backs up and transfers your files to a hosted storage area in a remote datacenter when your computer is idle; however, trestoring large quantities of files is time consuming. This solution works best when targeted at protecting individual files and documents, and is generally a subscription-based service for which you pay a monthly fee.
Making an image of your hard drive. This is a more comprehensive backup and disaster recovery solution. This option includes using 3rd-party programs to make an image of your entire hard drive, which can then be "re-imaged" in case of catastrophic failure to a new hard drive, providing a hard drive disaster recovery plan. Using this solution you can, within a short period of time, you can be back up and running with ALL of your documents, settings, programs and EVERYTHING intact, as if the disaster never occurred.
Dedicated backup appliances. This is the most comprehensive backup solution available today featuring both on-site and off-site backups with very short Recovery Time and Recovery Point Objectives. Because of their unique and efficient technologies, servers and workstations can be turned into working machines on the backup appliance within 10 minutes, both locally and in the cloud. One such solution is the CSSD-SIRIS appliance and service.
The way to determine the best solution to fit your needs is to ask yourself how soon you need to be back up and running after encountering a disaster, what is the maximum amount of data you can comfotably afford to loose, and how much is your data worth. If you can wait several days, then a computer back up program or the cloud might be right for you. If you need your data files immediately, then a simple USB hardrive rotation solution may be right. Or finally, if your business depends upon your data and its applications and data, then you must have a more comprehensive solution such as a dedicated backup appliance.
If you are concerned about the safety of your data, please call today (203) 349-8047 Ext 211
