| For any business large or small there needs to be | | | | it will check all files for the archive bit. Any files |
| some sort of backup system to protect your | | | | that now have the archive bit set, meaning they |
| information. Information can be anything from | | | | have been change, will be backed up and the |
| contact information to record keeping to actually | | | | archive bit will be cleared. So with an incremental |
| information based products. Backing up | | | | backup if you need to restore a folder that is on |
| information and preparing for a disaster can be | | | | tape you will need the full backup tape and every |
| done in many different ways but as long as you | | | | incremental tape since then to restore. |
| reach the same goal of protecting your | | | | Differential backups are similar except they don't |
| information. | | | | reset the archive bit, first a full backup is taken |
| You can use a variety of programs to backup | | | | and all the archive bits are cleared. Then every |
| information, from the windows backup utility, to | | | | day a differential backup is run where if the |
| 3rd party software, to open source or free | | | | archive bit has been set the file is then backed up |
| utilities, to even on line services now for very | | | | but the archive bit is NOT cleared. So through out |
| cheap. But a few things should be consistent | | | | the week the differential backup will be backing up |
| across the board about creating a backup plan. | | | | more and more files until we do a full backup |
| 1. Backups should be done consistently | | | | again. The advantage of a differential backup is |
| 2. Backups should be done at the very least | | | | that if we need to restore a folder we will only |
| everyday | | | | need the full backup tape and the last differential |
| 3. Full backups should be done at least once a | | | | tape that was done to restore and entire folder. |
| month if not every week | | | | For smaller businesses I would recommend going |
| 4. The backup plan should be reviewed frequently | | | | to an on line backup system because it will totally |
| to make sure that every important is still being | | | | alleviate most of the headache in purchasing |
| backed up | | | | backup software and configuring it yourself. IDrive |
| 5. Test restores should be preformed frequently | | | | is one of these on line backup companies that |
| to find any problems in your backup program | | | | allows you to download their client program and |
| before it is to late. | | | | then use their continuous backup system. IDrive |
| Now as for a retention plan, one of the biggest | | | | will also give you 2 gigs of free space, so if what |
| things that companies do is keep their backups on | | | | you are backing up is less then 2 gigs you can get |
| a tape in the server or in the server room. If you | | | | the service for free. is yet another one of these |
| are not using an on line backup system a copy of | | | | systems that provides on line backup so you |
| your backup should be taken to an off site | | | | don't have to worry about changing tapes or |
| location at least once a month. This way should a | | | | moving information to an off site location. On line |
| natural disaster happen you still have a backup of | | | | backups do it all for you. |
| your files that at worst will be a month old. This | | | | For larger enterprise businesses I would |
| method also gives you the opportunity to recover | | | | recommend some form of tape backup such as |
| a file that has been missing but has gone | | | | BriteStor from ArcServe which provides a very |
| unnoticed for up to a month. | | | | flexible backup software along with a tape drive |
| Now there are four different types of backups, | | | | that can store more data than you would ever |
| full backup, incremental backup, differential backup, | | | | want and with no monthly charge. But programs |
| and continuous backup. To understand how all of | | | | such as BiteStor require quite a bit of setup time |
| these different types of backups work you need | | | | from an IT specialist and quite a bit of |
| to know about the archive bit. The archive bit is a | | | | maintenance to make sure that is works properly. |
| setting on all files that will tell backup software | | | | If you take time to design a backup and |
| whether it has been changed or not. Whenever a | | | | recovery routine that works for your and your |
| file is change the archive bit is set. | | | | organization, set it up and test it periodically you |
| Full backups are just that they backup everything | | | | should be ready for just about any disaster. No |
| regardless of whether is has changed or not and | | | | matter what happens you know that your data is |
| it will clear the archive bit from all the files. | | | | secure and protected should it every needed to |
| Incremental backups will first make a full backup | | | | be restored. |
| which will clear the archive bit and then everyday | | | | |