The Importance of Computer Backup Power
A Backup Article Contributed by Melissa Larose
Computer Backup Power
The availability of backup power has become a very important aspect of our world. Power outages due to terrorist acts as well as power outages of our own making are occurring more and more often. The United States has an aging power infrastructure that continues to meet a demand it was not created for. Testing of the power grid continues today as engineers search for weak points in the system and ways to strengthen what is already in place.
Backup Power for Business
A power outage is still in the top ten ways to lose and corrupt your business or personal data. Power outages can be met and conquered with a well thought out backup plan within your disaster recovery plan. In surveys made by the Imation Corporation, a removable data storage manufacturer, it is noted that nearly one third of all businesses operate without a disaster recovery plan. It is probably also true that if a company does not have a disaster recovery plan they probably also do not backup their data nor do they own backup power systems for their computer networks.
When the lights go out what do these companies do? Are you one of these businesses? A business with any type of electrical devices needed for operation must consider a way to obtain power backup.
The Possibility of Backup Power
Going out and spending money on a backup power source may not be in your business budget at the moment. Knowing what type of generator to purchase for your enterprise is part of the task as well. But before you just walk out the door headed for dealer that sells backup power sources, stop a moment and spend some time planning.
Remove the panic you might feel and plan, along with your fellow employees, processes, procedures and steps to take in case of such a n emergency that would require power backup. If you do not take the time to plan your purchase cannot be used properly and in fact you may not know how to use it at all.
Research what your network systems need as a backup power source and purchase the right product. Make sure you understand the recovery process that the power backup can help you perform. When a power outage occurs your data can become corrupt. Your data is most at risk when you turn the system back on and not necessarily when it shuts off although the whole process is truly to blame for the corruption. Your IT staff should be well trained in how to respond to your benefit.
Other employees should not participate in the handling of the network being brought back to life unless they are trained to do so.
Maintaining Backup Power
Once a power backup source is in place the job of protecting your data is not over. Audits of the system and disaster recovery plan should also be put into place. Do not trust a system that has not been tested on a regular basis. Devices can fail at any moment with or without a power outage. Testing is the only way to assure the system is working properly.
