9 Things to Look for when Considering Data Backup Solutions

It's one thing to loose data and money because of hackers and thieves of various kinds; it's a different thing again when it's because you didn't back up your data properly or not at all. Value your data! Whether it's that critical business document, your thesis, your website or your home accounts and precious photo's.

Data can be lost through power surges, computer crashes, fires and theft to name a few. You wouldn't leave your home unlocked and the doors wide open without any occupants, so be sure to close the door to possible losses and theft of data.

The most important aspect of this issue, is to properly back up. So here are a few things to look for when considering a data back up solution.

1. Is it automatic?

You don't want to be using a system that is dependent on human action and consequently vulnerable to being forgotten or misused.

2. Is it simple to use?

You don't want something that's complicated and time consuming to understand. You need a set and forget system; at least until it's needed!

3. Is it secure?

Your data must be off-site. It is no good having a back up file on your PC. It must be remotely stored on at least one other PC. If your PC has a major fire etc the hardware maybe lost but the data and profit is safe.

4. Is it confidential?

A sad fact of life is that there are those around that get their kicks from destroying or stealing your data. Make sure the system you use is encrypted to at least 448 bit and password protected. That way total privacy gives peace of mind.

5. Is the data compressed?

If you have a lot of data to back up you'll want to reduce the storage requirement and cost by having it compressed first. Don't underestimate how much you business or study material will grow!

6. Is the system informative?

Don't put your self in the position of "hoping it worked". Get some form of feedback that assures you it has.

7. Is the system flexible?

Make sure that the system is capable of backing up any file size or type. Don't get caught out by thinking you don't need much storage or the ability to save certain types of files.

8. Is it versatile?

Make sure the system has the versatility to deal with pda's and mobile phones. Also make sure that it has both automatic and manual back facility. You want the automatic feature for the benefit of set and forget, but you also want the, "back up my data now" feature so that you have the benefit of not having to worry through the time between finishing your thesis or proposal and knowing it is really secure.

9. Is it backed up more than once?

Don't rely on a system that only has one copy. Make sure that it has several copies stored on at least 2, preferably 3, off-site computers. Think virus! If your system is hit with a virus you can then go back to a file before the virus took a hold.

Ray Burton is an online marketer of resources, business opp's and training programs for those wanting to start and maintain an online presence. Visit his site at http://www.cyberchoices.info. Get a full review of his recommended resource for data backup at http://www.cyberchoices.info/depositit/

In The News:


DriveSavers Launches First Data Recovery Portal to Apple Service ...
WebWire (press release), GA - 9 hours ago
DriveSavers announces today an online data recovery portal, exclusively for Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASP) and Self-Servicing Accounts (SSA). ...

Data Rescue - Format Recovery With Data Recovery Wizard Easily
PR Newswire (press release), NY - 7 hours ago
7 /PRNewswire/ -- EASEUS Software, the innovative, dedicated data recovery software provider offers a one-stop solution for format recovery from hard disk ...

Boston Globe

MARKET SNAPSHOT: Stocks Decline After Grim Jobs Data; Indexes Down ...
CNNMoney.com - 6 hours ago
US stocks had closed higher Tuesday as President-elect Barack Obama stumped for his recovery plan on Capitol Hill, even as minutes from December's Federal ...
GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks, dollar fall as jobs data spook markets guardian.co.uk
Business Highlights Forbes
US stock futures drop after Alcoa production cut MarketWatch
U.S. Daily - guardian.co.ukall 973 news articles

KARK

US Economy: Companies Cut Payrolls at Faster Pace
Bloomberg - 4 hours ago
7 (Bloomberg) -- Reports issued two days before the release of US jobless data showed private employers cut payrolls at a faster pace in December, ...
Employment Woes Imperil Stocks’ Nascent Rally Barron's Blogs
US corporate sector 'lost 693000 jobs in December' guardian.co.uk
Economic Watchdog, Jan 7 Optionetics
NJBIZ - CEP Newsall 280 news articles

Unlocking encryption—A key to data security
SC Magazine US - 3 hours ago
Maintain universal data recovery. Wherever the encrypted data resides (local backup device, remote data center, offline media, or archive media), ...

Iron Mountain Digital's Connected(R) Backup Solution Adds Support ...
Reuters - Jan 5, 2009
Anytime, Anywhere Data Recovery - Data recovery can be managed with just a few mouse clicks and users have access to their data at anytime, using any PC/Mac ...
Iron Mountain Incorporated Added to the S&P 500 Index FOXBusiness
Iron Mountain adds online Mac backup Search Storage
all 37 news articles

Quantum Named a 2009 Best Channel Vendor by Business Solutions ...
CNNMoney.com - Jan 6, 2009
... for data protection and disaster recovery, including deduplication, replication and common management for individual sites or distributed enterprises. ...
CA Chosen as a Best Storage Channel Vendor in Business Solutions ... WELT ONLINE
all 87 news articles

Ways To Recover You’re Lost Data From Computer
Meadow Free Press, ID - Jan 6, 2009
Ideally, you need to back up data to keep your files safe and sound. It is also done to avoid the use of complicated process like data recovery. ...

Steel May Be Poised for ‘Tentative Recovery’: Chart of the Day
Bloomberg - 17 hours ago
Iron ore, a raw material used in steelmakers’ furnaces, has risen 24 percent since Oct. 31, when it reached the lowest in three years, according to data ...

The Money Times

Fed staff sees contraction in 2009, moderate recovery in 2010
Channel News Asia, Singapore - Jan 6, 2009
WASHINGTON: Data presented to Federal Reserve policymakers last month indicate an economic contraction for 2009 followed by a "moderate recovery" in 2010, ...
Video: Jan. 6: Stocks Finish Higher on Fed Minutes AssociatedPress
Fed meeting had grim economy report RTE.ie
Fiscal Plans Stimulate the Bulls Barron's
CNNall 700 news articles
data recovery - Google News


PARLOT.COM: Turnkey Money Making websites

Data Recovery The Easy Way

If you aren't prepared in advance, you will most likely... Read More

The Importance of Data Backups

All computers and their components are subject to failure. In... Read More

Data Recovery: Beginners Tips

Right now you probably in a lot of mental pain,... Read More

Do I Really Need To Backup?

Okay, computers a machine, right? Okay, maybe not yours. You... Read More

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery - Selecting A Business Continuity Strategy

The risk analysis and business impact analysis have identified risks... Read More

Want To Beat The Odds? Disaster Recovery Planning is Essential

Statistics show two out of five businesses go out of... Read More

Data Backup Solution: Why You Need a Backup Plan in Place ? Part 2

In the first part of this article series, I talked... Read More

Data Backups ? One Key to Business Survival

Your customer data is a precious resource that can literally... Read More

Is Your Backup Good Enough?

As someone who has seen quite a few hard drive... Read More

Backup Your Data Or Lose Your Life!

Oh the perils of collecting those precious photos on your... Read More

Disaster Recovery Made Easy With Online Backups

Whenever disaster strikes the most critical asset that every company... Read More

Protect Yourself Before Your Hard Drive Crashes

Almost everyone who has used a computer has experienced a... Read More

When Disaster Strikes: How Long Would Your Business Survive if Files On Your Computer Disappeared?

A Tornado? In Birmingham? In The United Kingdom? Unthinkable!Yes, in... Read More

Data Recovery - What Not to Do!

Data recovery is a tricky thing, and if you've somehow... Read More

The Seven Golden Rules Of Data Backups

Backups of company data are carried out for two main... Read More

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery - Business Impact Analysis

Business impact analysis is a critical part of the business... Read More

Hard Drive Crash? The Essential Data Recovery Report

Your worst nightmare just became a horrifying reality. You keep... Read More

Backup -- But Where To?

We all know we have to backup regularly, but those... Read More

How Secure Are Online Data Backups?

Processing DATA is what all businesses do. Protecting data is... Read More

3 Ways Computers Can Hurt Your Ministry - Part 1 - Ineffective Data Backups

Our computers have become almost indispensable ministry tools. What would... Read More

5 Simple Tips to Prevent MS Access Database Corruption

It's important to understand that any time an Access client... Read More

Data Recovery - You Can Get It Back!

Data recovery is a process whereby you can save data... Read More

HasYour Computer Hard Drive Ever Crashed? Are You Challenged by Backups?

The following scenario's have probably been repeated thousands of times,... Read More

How to Effectively Back Up Your Data

What to backup, and what to loseThe oldest "computer expression"... Read More

Data Recovery

Every person who uses a personal computer will eventually face... Read More