Offsite Backup

A Backup Article Contributed by Melissa Larose

Offsite Backup

When planning a backup routine consider a few questions. What risks are you willing to take with your data? What amount of loss are you willing to accept? Half, three quarters, none? Are there parts of your data that can be reassembled and parts that are critical? Would backup of data to an offsite storage location provide you with some piece of mind?

No Backup - No Work

Considering your data needs can be a harrowing experience. Making sure the backup process is adequate can trigger some deep and often loud discussions among colleagues. Often the requirements call for an investment that the company had not planned to undertake.

Here are some simple steps to follow to make the discussion easier. Identify the size of the data. Identify the critical nature of each set of data. Include in your yearly planning strategies line items for backup and protection of your data. Identify the value of your data within your business. Remember no data can often mean no work. Do you want to go out of business or grow your business? Accepting that the data is the core of your business can put a whole new spin on budgeting and planning for backup and restore of data.

The Backup Decision

Identifying what level of data recovery is required is the touchstone in creating a backup plan. If you can't agree on this point then you can't move forward. In addition, backup plans should be reviewed and revised on a regular basis. Technology, data requirements, and services offered are a changing effort. Without a place to start, such as the level of data recovery required, knowing where to begin an evaluation can be a chaotic process.

Include in your backup plan a contingency plan for probable scenarios. An earthquake in some areas could be considered a probable scenario. If your business were physically destroyed, would having critical business data off site make it possible for you to continue operating?

Off Site Backup

Off site backup can mean several things. It is up to your company to define it for your own needs.

Many companies treat the idea of offsite backup quite literally. They backup their data on to another media, whether another hard drive, disks, or tape, and physically deliver it to another site for safe keeping. This site should be a separate location (such as a safe deposit box) and not next door in the company storage unit. A physically separate location is best because when disaster strikes in the form of Mother Nature it is generally a whole series of city blocks, neighborhoods or vicinities that are affected. Having that backup next door is a risk not to be taken.

Off site backup can also be defined as a backup made directly to another offsite system. Often companies will hire the services of a backup server with a separate network, often with its own generator and emergency recovery system. There the company information can remain safe within the fortified confines of the service company who archives it and makes it available for recovery service 24/7.