Data Backup and Disaster Recovery - The Importance of Data Integrity

For any type of business, whether it's a retaildata is important, with a list of problems that
store or a large investment firm, computer datalarge, it's surprising that many businesses don't
matters. In fact, in our technologically evolvingtake data loss seriously.
world computer data is more important than ever.DISASTER RECOVERY USING DATA BACKUP
Without our computers many businesses wouldThe right way to ensure that computer files stay
simply fail to run. The problem comes in whensafe is with regular backups. Simply saving a copy
businesses fail to properly secure and backup theirof important files is a start. With a copy of a PC's
important files (and many of them don't).most important files copied to a different media
Since computers are machines, there comes a(or different PC) disaster recovery then becomes
time when they do fail. As it pertains to business,copying them back when the problem is fixed.
the loss of data due to hardware failure,With such a simple concept, there should never
misplaced files, viruses, or a plethora of otherbe a reason for disaster recovery services to
reasons costs enterprise millions of dollars eacheven exist. Unfortunately however they do, and it
year.isn't because backing up data is difficult or
The simple truth is that having a plan in place, andexpensive. It isn't even time consuming like it used
implementing that plan, is all it takes to preventto be.
the possible costs of losing important enterpriseCOST EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR DATA
data.BACKUP
THE PROBLEM CREATED BY POOR BACKUPFor the business that has just one or two PC's
HABITSthat house important data, the backup features
As an example of what happens when a businessincluded with Windows XP, or Windows Vista are
loses important data, let's look at a hard driveusually adequate. This simple built-in function allows
failure.a user to backup all personal files with a few
This is a common reason for data loss. A hardclicks of the mouse. It can backup to CD/DVD
disk contains a series of circular plates that all spinmedia, to a USB drive, or even to another hard
inside the disk assembly. Data is written anddrive. When a business has more than a couple
retrieved using a disk head. These wafer-thinPC's though, this feature can become
disks turn at speeds of up to 10,000rpm. Withcumbersome and time consuming.
this fast movement, and the other mechanicalWhen it comes to a larger business setting, the
parts inside the disk, it isn't uncommon for thebetter use is to use software for data backup.
disk head to crash; leaving your data inside, andThere are programs that allow for automatic
many times damaging the data stored on thosebackup of data across a network. There are
disks.even programs, such as our own data backup
The big cost comes in when it comes time tosoftware, that allow field workers to keep their
recover that data. A disaster recovery centerdata secure, and allow for interoffice data
must take apart the assembly, recover the dataintegrity. With this type of solution all of a
from each disk plate, and then transfer that databusiness's important files are kept on a backup
to a different media. The cost to have dataserver. Restoring any PC on the network is as
recovered from a single $50 hard drive oftensimple as a few clicks of the mouse.
runs into thousands of dollars, and many timesThe simple truth is that, in the world of business,
not all of the lost files can be recovered.data integrity matters. Keeping business files
That is just one example of how data is lost.secure is often as simple as using a cost
Human error is actually the most commoneffective backup method. If all enterprises would
problem, behind that comes computer viruses,adopt this simple idea, there likely would no longer
hardware failure, software error, data theft, andbe a need for disaster recovery services, or the
many other reasons. Since we know that ourhuge expenses associated with those services!