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Back Up Your Data
Disaster will strike, it is only a matter of time. It may come in the form of fire, theft, virus attack, hardware malfunction, or accidental deletion or unintended modification of files or programs. Anything that separates a user from timely access to accurate data is a disaster. Considering the immense pressure from competition, businesses must be prepared to mitigate problems quickly. One such solution is timely and accurate data backup systems.
Backup systems are more than just software routines. A whole process, including physical intervention by people, must be put in place in order for the backup system to be effective. Decisions must be made on the backup medium to be used (floppy disks, other removable disks, hard drives, tape drives, etc.), the software to be used (real-time backup software, unattended backup software, compression algorithms used, file types used) and what exactly you want backed up (local data, data on a file server, programs). The pros and cons of each alternative must be known and weaknesses in systems chosen should be compensated by other systems.
Considerations must be made to the location of the storage of the backup medium (offsite versus onsite), the frequency of the backup routines, the time span of backups, and the redundancy of backed up data.
One of the problems of most backup systems is discussed HERE.
Ultimately, the biggest test is to implement a system and test it. Pretend the office burned down, a computer completely malfunctioned, or data has become corrupt and must be replaced with data from weeks or even months ago. Then determine the time and effort required to restore partial and then complete functionality. Only in the testing phase can problems be identified and remedied before irreplaceable data is lost.
Chartered Accountants with an IT designation specialty can advise the small business owner on IT solutions and resolutions to problems. Contact Keith Anderson CA-IT at (780) 447-5830 if you have further questions, concerns, or the need for advice.
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