The Disaster Recovery Interview
One of the most overlooked facets of the company information technology structure is an optimized backup and disaster recovery solution. With all of the technology available today, the absence of even the most elementary backup solution is a mortal sin in regard to the business technology world. There are affordable backup and data recovery systems in every price range, so even companies with limited budgets can afford an elementary system at the very least. Also many computer services firms now offer backup and data recovery systems as integral parts of their managed IT services.
Here are the top 10 questions to answer when pondering the right backup and data recovery system:
1. What do I do if I delete a file I need?
2. Is my email stored and secured?
3. What if my computer crashes? Even if my data is backed up how long will it take me to rebuild my computer to a working state?
4. Is all of my backup data located in the same physical location?
5. Will a catastrophe wipe out my backup solution i.e. {an earthquake,a fire, a flood}?
6. Does my business rely on any one system for important functions? How long can my business operate without this system? Does my current backup solution accomodate that expectation?
7. Does anyone I work with know how to recover information if I need to use my backups that are in place?
8. Are my backups regularly tested so I know they are working?
9. Are my backups monitored so I know if they are ever failing?
10. Is the backup data media (i.e. hard drives or tapes) transferred in a secure, controlled manor since it contains all data for my entire business?
This list covers about one-fourth of the questions that you should review when it comes to a practical backup and disaster recovery solution so if you haven’t asked yourself these questions, start today! If you are confused, contact a local computer services provider which should be able to assist your company.
Sphere: Related ContentWhat to Look for When Searching for the Best Online Backup Services
It does not matter whether you’re a student, a banker or just someone searching for the perfect place to safekeep photos. What matters is that you know the benefits that the best online backup services can offer you. If you are simply after enough space or if you are worried about damaging your files, you will find out that the best place to keep them is not at everybody’s easy reach. Most file backup companies have bunkers – most of which are nearly impervious to disasters – making it impossible to find a safe place to store your files with. And yet, finding the right company which will work best for you can be a little challenging.
Online storage companies which offer similar services are priced competitively – usually around per month. However, depending on the exact services that you want, you may pay less or more, sometimes even nothing at all. Just be extra careful in accepting services with suspiciously low or free offers. While most of them are usually harmless, entrusting your important data with someone who does not necessarily offer the service that you need may not be a good idea. Additionally, it is just about fair that you get what you pay for, for your online backup services.
File accessibility is also another factor to consider. Being able to retrieve your files immediately would not be such a major issue if you’re just looking to have copies of old photos printed, but for a student who needs access to his notes as soon as possible or for an office employee who sometimes brings work at home, even a day of waiting could be too long. You would therefore want an online backup service that can best respond to this need. Different online storage companies have varying policies when it comes to file restoration so be sure to raise these concerns before signing up.
You also want to make sure that you can use the software that most of these companies require you to work with. Since each company has its own system, you often have to deal with different levels of user-friendliness. If the program you have to work with works in a hard to understand way or even extremely technical, you may not be able to work with it. The idea of backing up online is to give you the protection you need without wasting your time so be sure the company has a decent backup wizard in their software suite.
Lastly, you need a secure service. Most companies offer encryption of your stored information as it travels between your computer and theirs. However, some companies can offer more than that. You can find companies which scatter your files across their services making it impossible for any outsider to decipher any important information. You may also choose to put a password on your files. All these added services work together to give you the top-level security that you need. But to make sure that a service is right for your needs, just read a few reviews, like the Carbonite review.
Sphere: Related ContentWhy Is It Important To Backup Your Computer Data?
For some people, backing up computer information does not seem very necessary. After all, they’re not bankers or government officials with millions of important information to protect. However, personal e-mails, pictures and notes on your drives should not be taken any less seriously. Just like a banker’s file of finances, every personal file of photo or of just about anything can hold wonderful memories of you and your loved one. Losing these things may not have a great impact on anyone else but you owe it to yourself to protect these important bits of info and backup your computer. Safeguarding your computer files is very important especially in the digital age when every person can put so much about himself on his computer.
Some have kept certain files for years. And this was always done in the same old process. First, you buy a stack of floppy disks or CDs which can be costly. You organize your files in such a way that everything in one category would fit into the disk space. Then, you label each disk before finally storing the information – which usually takes lots of space and hours of time. In storing your files, you need to be extra careful since a few scratches or a several drops of water could be enough to erase all your hard work and stored data. You may buy a protective safe for your disks but this would mean additional expenses on your part.
It’s a good thing that recent developments in technology have given way to better methods when it comes to data backups and storage. External hard drives are already available that allow you to just plug and backup. It has become as simple as that. And your files are organized exactly the way they were in your computer’s hard drive so the process should only take a few minutes of your time. External hard drives also let you store so much data — up to several terabytes. For many who don’t have an idea how big a terabyte is, one terabyte can hold up to 200,000 photos at 5MB each.
But not everyone wants to run out and buy a new, and often expensive, hard drive. While it lets you keep all of your files with you, which offers some comfort to most people, it can be a bit daunting for some people.
Fortunately, there are a number of companies which offer very user-friendly ways to store your data online, such as Carbonite backup. If you choose to use their services, you will be able to backup your computer using their storage devices. And you can rest easy because most of these companies house their servers in highly protected areas where they are nearly immune to damage or corruption. Your files are much safer with them than they are sitting in your office.
Sphere: Related ContentData Recovery From Hard Drive Units That Have Crashed
Perhaps some of you may think that data recovery from hard drive that has failed is impossible. The biggest fear among most people is that when a hard drive fails, all the files there are lost forever. The good news is that there are different categories of failures that makes information recovery possible. Regardless of the level of failure of the hard drive, there are certain no-no’s that should be kept in mind.
The first thing to avoid is attempting to repair a drive yourself. Never open the sealed casing of the hard drive. Exposure to any particulates will only make the drive even worse. And even if you do manage to repair the damaged piece, the drive will crash immediately due to the particulates in the air it was exposed to. Don’t try any home remedies either. Tricks such as freezing your hard drive will not fix your problem and will likely only make things worse. Keep a clear head on your shoulders, don’t get angry and take the proper steps.
One of the first steps you should make is to see if your computer can still recognize the drive. Once you establish that the drive still works, you can then consider the other possible causes of the hard drive crash. It may have been brought about by a faulty program or software, or a virus. Running a virus scan will allow you to check if your files may be corrupted. There is also a possibility that your files are extremely fragmented, and the strain on your hard drive caused it to crash. This issue can be addressed by doing defragmentation regularly.
However, if the hard drive is making strange sounds or no longer operates at all, you may have experienced a mechanical failure. The hard drive is a very delicate piece of equipment and even the smallest things can cause damage. Data recovery from hard drive units that have had a mechanical failure should always be left to the professionals. Only those with a clean room and the right tools and knowledge can repair a drive which has been physically damaged. Note that this can cost a lot of money, many people do not put a price tag on the things they have stored on their hard drive.
Most people have to experience the woes of a hard drive crash before they finally realize the importance of backing up data. If you do online backup now before facing the unfortunate event of having to deal with your first hard drive nightmare, you are saving yourself from wasting a lot of time, effort and thousands of dollars. While recovering information from a hard drive which just crashed remains doable, investing on a good computer backup is a practical option to consider as it saves you from having to go through the stress of data recovery.
Sphere: Related ContentWhat You Should Know When You Restore Files from Carbonite
If you’re interested in using online backup solutions and are concerned of the technical difficulties you might encounter, you would be happy to know that it’s really quite simple to restore files from Carbonite. Most of us think that tinkering with our computer hardware needs a lot of technical wisdom. It’s also like that when using a new software or program. With Carbonite backup however, doing data backup and recovering the data when the need arises involves processes that are very easy to follow even for novice computer users.
If you are ever faced with the task of restoring your files after reformatting your hard drive or after a computer crash, the first thing you would need to do is download the Carbonite software again. As soon as you do this, the setup wizard will ask you to choose from two options – restore your files later or restore your files now. If you choose to retrieve them right there and then, you will then be asked if you prefer the files downloaded to their original locations, or choose specific files for specific users. Most users would choose option one but even the more advanced option is not that difficult to follow.
However, if you only want to restore a single file or an older version of a file, you have options there as well. Since Carbonite is listed under My Computer as a virtual drive, you can open it and navigate it just like any other drive. Once you have opened it, you simply have to find the file you want to restore. Click Restore to send it back to its original location or click Restore To if you want to send it somewhere else. You also have to choice to retrieve previous versions of files by clicking the Restore Previous Version option. Carbonite will save older versions for up to three months.
Carbonite however, also has its weak points. One of its major drawbacks is the delay you may encounter when you restore large file sizes. Restoring a few hundred megabytes of data for instance, may be completed only after hours or even days of waiting. Even if you want to have a document restored very quickly though, you would need to stretch your patience a bit. The important thing is, you have a reliable backup in place should you experience a major data loss. Carbonite’s servers may be slow when restoring large volumes, but then again, faster servers would have meant more expensive fees.
Carbonite is not a flawless service, but it is an extremely attractive one. They offer what other companies charge ten times the amount for. You also get an ease of use that is hard to match with many other online backup services. When you put all these things together, you get a great service which appeals to a large group of people.
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