Offsite Data Backup WIll Save Your Business

The odds are 1 in 4 that you will lose all the data on your hard drive due to a virus, hacker or natural disaster, such as a fire, flood, or earthquake. In addition, industry analysts report that up to 50% of businesses who undergo a widespread loss of data cannot survive and go out of business. A look at the four most common methods of data storage reveals that they do not all offer the same benefits and safety.

Maybe you already backup your data to a CD or DVD, but these disks are not always secure. Often data copies just fine to a CD or DVD, but when it’s time to recover the data, for various technical or mechanical reasons, it won’t recover when you need it the most. And if you forget or fail to put the disk in the computer and perform the manual backup, then hundreds of hours of work and files will be vulnerable to loss. In addition to that, your backed up files on CD or DVD are at risk in case of theft because the files are not encrypted.

Many people are also backing up their data onto a second hard drive or tape storage, either internal or external. Recovery of data is easy with these solutions but only if the cloned hard drive or tape backup is not damaged in the same fire or flood in which your original hard drive was damaged. And don’t forget the possibility of theft. And it has been reported by industry experts that tape backups can fail in 1 out of 2 recovery attempts.

The most efficient and effective way securely backup your files on a regular basis is to perform a remote offsite backup. Off site data storage and recovery involves a few simple steps:

Local Software Installation

First, you will need to install a small program to interface with the offsite data storage server. It takes about 20-30 minutes to set up the program.

Initial Backup of Entire System

Second, to back up files over the internet, you need to have a cable modem, DSL or T1 line. Third, you’ll need to schedule a complete backup of your system. All respectable off site data backup providers secure your files in high security “vaults” that make the CIA envious, so don’t worry about your files.

Web Management System

Finally, your online provider might offer a webpage where you can download files and schedule backups. You should also be issued a unique encryption key to access your data.

I’ll leave you with this proverb: don’t spend your days worrying about losing your data; worry about not having an offsite backup service to recover it. To protect your files and your business, get more information about data backup strategies at Data Backup Solutions.