Offsite Data Storage Saves Files and Money

Did you know that you have a 1 in 4 chance of losing all of your pictures, music, spreadsheets, reports, programs, and everything electronically valuable due to a natural disaster or an evil virus programmer? In addition, if you own a business, your chances are 1 in 2 that your business will fail if you lose your all or most of your data. There are many ways to backup your data, but they are not all equally safe.

CDs and DVDs are probably the most common way to back up files, but they don’t offer the kind of security that you might think they offer. 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. You should have success with these backup devices if they have not been stolen, corrupted, or damaged in the same disaster that caused your original files to be stolen, corrupted, or damaged. And some reports say that up to half of all attempts to recover data on tape backups do fail.

The best way to keep your backups current and safe is to utilize offsite data backup services that specialize in keeping your files automatically backed up and secure until you need them. Offsite data protection and file recovery is a fairly easy process:

Local Software Installation

First, you will need to install a small program to interface with the offsite data storage server. It takes up to a half hour to set up the program.

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, perform a full system backup during an opportune time. 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, from almost any web connection anywhere in the world, you should be able to schedule regular online backups, verify the safety of your backed up files and retrieve them on demand, if a web interface is offered. You will probably also receive a unique encryption code known only to you for safe access to your files.

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. To protect your files and your business, get more information about data backup strategies at Data Backup Solutions.