Offsite Data Storage Is the Solution to Saving Your Business

Almost 1 in 4 computers have lost their data to hackers, viruses, and acts of nature. Not only that, almost 50% of businesses that lose their data go out of business permanently, report industry analysts. A brief review of the following backup methods show that they do not all offer the same amount of safety.

You might be backing up your files to a DVD or a CD, but these disks do not offer the security you might think they do. Even though you verify that the files copied perfectly onto the disks, damage to the disk over time can corrupt the files making them very expensive or impossible to recover. And if you do not perform the manual backup onto disk, hundreds of hours of work and files will still be lost. 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. You will likely be able to recover data easily with these devices but only if they have not been corrupted or damaged along with the original hard drive in the same natural disaster or virus attack. And don’t rule out the theft option. In addition, research shows that tape backup fails to recover data as much as 50% of the time.

The easiest and most secure way to regularly backup all of your data with little or no effort on your part is by utilizing an online or offsite data storage company. Offsite backup services usually involve a simple process:

Local Software Installation

First, you will need to install a small program to interface with the offsite data storage server. Setup of the program is usually very simple and takes about half an hour.

Initial Backup of Entire System

Second, you will need to have a fast internet connection, such as a T1 line, DSL or cable modem. Third, you will want to schedule your first full backup during off-peak hours so that it doesn’t interrupt your other important computer traffic. All reputable offsite data backup providers store your data in server “vaults” second in safety only to that of the FBI and CIA, so don’t worry about that!

Web Management System

Finally, many online providers offer a web control interface where you can schedule backups and retrieve files anytime. You should also be issued an access code that will keep your files safe from intruders.

I’ll stop here with a word of wisdom: don’t worry about data loss; worry about how soon you will contract with an offsite data recovery provider. If you would like to learn more strategies for backing up your data and protecting your business investment, visit Data Backup Solutions.