Recovery for the rest of us: small and mid-size businesses need to be as diligent as large enterprises in implementing an emergency preparedness agenda - Storage Management

Computer Technology Review, Oct, 2003 by Don Chouinard

Offsite Storage of Backups

Finally, a copy of the backup data you create through the regular backup system must be kept onsite, and another copy must be sent to a secure, offsite location. The onsite copy will be used to perform restores as required, and the offsite copy will safeguard against damage to the onsite backup media. A number of companies specialize in picking up backup media for storage in highly secure facilities. Typically, once a week, the weekly onsite and offsite media are rotated. This usually occurs on a Friday, because a time-consuming full backup needs to be performed in order to bring the offsite media current when it comes onsite. More sophisticated backup software can make the offsite media current with a fast progressive incremental backup, saving valuable time, and giving flexibility to rotate media on any day, and as often as desired.

Accuracy Matters in Restores

Performing effective backups is less than half of the story. The most current, complete and safe backups in the world are useless if they cannot be used to restore lost data. A business must be able to quickly recover lost data in order to minimize downtime and avoid cutting into employee productivity.

An important part of implementing an emergency preparedness agenda is to periodically perform a practice restore of data from the backup media. These dry runs can reveal any potential problems in a restore process, and they can keep your backup staff prepared for emergency situations.

If you learn to protect data in the same way a large corporation does, you will not only prepare your company for unforeseen emergencies, but you will also protect your business from being a victim of preventable data loss. You can enable continuous operation by adopting a backup plan that includes current, complete, offsite copies, and incorporates well-rehearsed restores in order to eliminate the risks that most small and midsize businesses face.

www.dantz.com

Don Chouinard is the director of product management at Dantz Development Corp. (Walnut Creek, CA)